General Terms and Conditions

Last Updated: July 18, 2025

Welcome to rudlu.eu! These General Terms and Conditions (“GT&C”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you (“User,” “you,” or “your”) and RUDLU Unip LDA (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), a legal entity operating the rudlu.eu website, its associated applications, and any other related sites or applications (collectively, the “Service”).

By accessing, Browse, or using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these GT&C, including all policies and guidelines referenced herein. If you do not agree to these GT&C, you must not use the Service.

1. Definitions

 
• Service: Refers to the rudlu.eu website, its associated applications, and any other related sites or applications operated by RUDLU Unip LDA.
 
• User Content: Refers to any data, including but not limited to photographs, images, text, comments, and associated metadata (e.g., EXIF data), that you upload, submit, or transmit through the Service.
 
• Personal Data: Refers to any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person, as defined by applicable data protection laws.
 
• RUDLU Unip LDA: Refers to the legal entity operating the Service and the owner of the website, located at 27a Rua da Bela Vista à Graça, 1170-Lisboa, Portugal.

2. Acceptance of Terms

Your use of the Service is expressly conditioned upon your explicit acceptance of these GT&C. We employ a mechanism that requires you to actively confirm your acceptance of these terms before you can access or use certain features of the Service. Your acceptance is logged and stored by us for record-keeping purposes. By proceeding, you confirm your understanding and agreement to all terms outlined herein. If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use the Service.

3. Eligibility and User Accounts

3.1 Eligibility

The Service is intended for users who are at least 13 years old. By using the Service, you represent and warrant that you meet this age requirement. If you are under 18, you represent that you have obtained parental or guardian consent to use the Service.

3.2 Account Creation (Optional)

While login is optional, you may choose to create an account to access additional features. If you choose to create an account, you agree to:

 
• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during the registration process.
 
• Maintain the security of your password and identification.
 
• Promptly update your account information to keep it accurate, current, and complete.
 
• Be solely responsible for all activities that occur under your account.

3.3 Public Statuses (for Logged-in Users)

If you choose to create an account and log in to the Service, you may be assigned public statuses (e.g., “Bronze,” “Silver,” “Gold”) based on your contributions and activity within the Service. These statuses are visible to other users and are intended to recognize and encourage participation.

3.4 Facebook Login

As an alternative to manual registration, the Service may offer you the ability to create an account and log in using your Facebook account. By choosing to use Facebook Login, you grant us permission to access and process certain information from your Facebook account as authorized by you and by Facebook’s policies.

 
• Data Access: The specific information we request is displayed on the Facebook permission screen you will see during the login process. This information may include, but is not limited to, your full name, your primary email address, and your public profile picture.
 
• Purpose of Use: We use this information to create and populate your user profile on the Service, to facilitate your login, and to communicate with you in accordance with our Privacy Policy. The profile picture from Facebook may be used as your initial profile picture on the Service. We do not receive or store your Facebook password.
 
• Facebook’s Terms: Your use of the Facebook Login feature is also subject to Facebook’s own Terms of Service and Data Policy. RUDLU Unip LDA is not responsible for the practices, security, or policies of Facebook.

4. Data Collection and Usage

By using the Service, you acknowledge and agree that RUDLU Unip LDA may collect, store, and use the following types of data:

4.1 Automatically Collected Data

 
• Device and Connection Information: We automatically collect certain information from your device, including your Internet Protocol (IP) address, user agent, device type, operating system, and browser type. This data is used for security, analytics, and to improve the Service’s compatibility and performance.
 
• Usage Data: Information about how you interact with the Service, including pages visited, features used, and the frequency and duration of your activities. This helps us analyze usage patterns and improve the Service.

4.2 User-Provided and Content-Related Data

 
• EXIF Data: When you upload or shoot photos through the Service, we automatically extract and retain all embedded EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) data. This includes, but is not limited to, date and time the photo was taken, camera settings, and GPS coordinates if available in the original file. The collection of EXIF GPS data is mandatory for all uploaded images and is essential for the Service’s core functionality of mapping and identifying animal and plant locations.
 
• Geolocation Data:
   
  • From EXIF: As stated above, GPS coordinates embedded in EXIF data are collected automatically and are mandatory for all uploaded images.
   
  • Device Location (Optional): If you choose to enable location services on your device and grant the Service permission, we may collect real-time precise geolocation data directly from your device. This data is used to enhance your experience within the app, such as suggesting nearby species or mapping your contributions. You can disable this feature at any time through your device settings, but this will not affect the collection of GPS data from EXIF files.
 
• User Content Metadata: Information related to your uploaded photos, such as the date of upload, the identified species (if applicable), and any other tags or categories you or the Service assign.
 
• Account Information (for Logged-in Users): If you choose to create an account, we will collect information necessary for account creation and management, such as your username, email address, and password (hashed).

4.3 Purpose of Data Collection

The data collected is used for the following purposes:

 
• To provide, maintain, and improve the Service.
 
• To analyze trends, administer the Service, track users’ movements, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use.
 
• To enhance the user experience, including personalized content and features.
 
• To conduct research, analysis, and statistical purposes related to biodiversity, environmental monitoring, and other scientific or commercial applications.
 
• To facilitate the core functionality of mapping and identifying animal and plant locations.
 
• For security purposes, to detect and prevent fraud and abuse.
 
• To communicate with you about the Service, updates, and promotional offers (if you opt-in).

5. User Content and Image Rights

5.1 Your Responsibility for User Content

You are solely responsible for all User Content that you upload, post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available through the Service. You represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary licenses, rights, consents, and permissions to grant the licenses granted herein for all User Content you submit. You agree that your User Content will not infringe upon the rights of any third party, including copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other personal or proprietary rights.

5.2 Image Rights and Licensing

By uploading, submitting, or transmitting any User Content (including photographs and images) to the Service, you hereby grant to RUDLU Unip LDA, its affiliates, successors, and assigns, a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid-up, transferable, and sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, publicly perform, and publicly display such User Content (in whole or in part) and to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed, for any purpose, including but not limited to:

 
• Public Display, Sharing, and Promotion: Displaying your User Content publicly on the Service. This also includes sharing and publishing your User Content on other platforms and media for promotional and community engagement purposes. Specifically, this includes, but is not limited to, our official accounts on Meta platforms (such as Instagram and Facebook) and other social media channels. When sharing your content, we may credit you in accordance with Section 5.4 (Social Media Tagging and Attribution) if you have provided your social media information.
 
• Data Aggregation and Analysis: Using your User Content, including associated metadata (such as EXIF data and geolocation), for research, analysis, and statistical purposes related to biodiversity, environmental monitoring, and other scientific or commercial applications.
 
• Resale and Commercial Use: Reselling, licensing, or otherwise commercializing the User Content and its associated data (including geolocation data) to third parties for various purposes, including but not limited to scientific research, environmental studies, commercial databases, and educational resources.
 
• Service Improvement: Using User Content to train and improve our algorithms for species identification, mapping, and other Service features.

5.3 Geolocation Data Specifics

You expressly acknowledge and agree that all geolocation data collected through the Service, whether from EXIF files or optional device location services, may be used, stored, and shared by RUDLU Unip LDA for the purposes outlined in Section 5.2 (Image Rights and Licensing), including for public display, data aggregation, analysis, and resale to third parties. This data is crucial for the scientific and environmental objectives of the Service.

5.4 Social Media Tagging and Attribution

If you choose to provide us with your username or handle for any social media platform (e.g., Instagram, X, Facebook) through your account settings or other means, you expressly grant RUDLU Unip LDA the right to tag your social media account and/or mention your username in our posts on those platforms. This tagging and attribution may occur when we feature, share, or promote your User Content on our official social media pages for promotional, community engagement, or attribution purposes. This permission is granted in conjunction with the licenses you provide in Section 5.2. If you do not wish to be tagged, you should not provide your social media usernames to the Service.

5.5 Reseller’s Agreement

By electronically agreeing to this paragraph when accepting the General Terms and Conditions, you grant RUDLU Unip LDA the explicit right to produce physical prints of the images you submit through the Service and to offer these prints for sale to third parties.

• Author Confirmation: You confirm and warrant that you are the original author of any image submitted and hold all necessary rights to enter into this agreement.
• Commission: As the author, you are entitled to receive a commission of twenty percent (20%) of the pre-tax sale amount of any prints sold that feature your image.
• Payment: This commission is payable within thirty (30) days after the product has been sold. To receive payment, you must present a valid invoice and provide bank account details in your name, including a valid International Bank Account Number (IBAN).
• Notification of Sales: RUDLU Unip LDA commits to advising you of any sales of your prints to facilitate the invoicing process.

6. User Conduct

You agree not to use the Service to:

 
• Upload, post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available any User Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another’s privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically, or otherwise objectionable.
 
• Harm minors in any way.
 
• Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity.
 
• Forge headers or otherwise manipulate identifiers in order to disguise the origin of any User Content transmitted through the Service.
 
• Upload, post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available any User Content that you do not have a right to make available under any law or under contractual or fiduciary relationships.
 
• Upload, post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available any User Content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, or other proprietary rights of any party.
 
• Upload, post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, “junk mail,” “spam,” “chain letters,” “pyramid schemes,” or any other form of solicitation.
 
• Upload, post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available any material that contains software viruses or any other computer code, files, or programs designed to interrupt, destroy, or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment.
 
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers or networks connected to the Service, or disobey any requirements, procedures, policies, or regulations of networks connected to the Service.
 
• Intentionally or unintentionally violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law.

6.1 Forum and Comments (for Logged-in Users)

If you are a logged-in user, you will be permitted to participate in public forums and add comments to User Content. Please be aware that any information you post in these public areas will be visible to other users of the Service and may be publicly accessible. You are solely responsible for the content of your posts and comments.

7. Intellectual Property Rights

All content on the Service, excluding User Content, such as text, graphics, logos, button icons, images, audio clips, digital downloads, data compilations, and software, is the property of RUDLU Unip LDA or its content suppliers and protected by international copyright laws. The compilation of all content on this site is the exclusive property of RUDLU Unip LDA and protected by international copyright laws.

8. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. RUDLU UNIP LDA MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE OPERATION OF THE SERVICE OR THE INFORMATION, CONTENT, MATERIALS, OR PRODUCTS INCLUDED ON THE SERVICE. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.

RUDLU UNIP LDA DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE, ITS SERVERS, OR E-MAIL SENT FROM RUDLU UNIP LDA ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.

9. Limitation of Liability

IN NO EVENT SHALL RUDLU UNIP LDA, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AFFILIATES, AGENTS, CONTRACTORS, INTERNS, SUPPLIERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, OR LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INJURY, LOSS, CLAIM, OR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION LOST PROFITS, LOST REVENUE, LOST SAVINGS, LOSS OF DATA, REPLACEMENT COSTS, OR ANY SIMILAR DAMAGES, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF ANY OF THE SERVICE OR ANY PRODUCTS PROCURED USING THE SERVICE, OR FOR ANY OTHER CLAIM RELATED IN ANY WAY TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE OR ANY PRODUCT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN ANY CONTENT, OR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF THE SERVICE OR ANY CONTENT (OR PRODUCT) POSTED, TRANSMITTED, OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE VIA THE SERVICE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THEIR POSSIBILITY.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless RUDLU Unip LDA and our parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, officers, directors, agents, contractors, licensors, service providers, subcontractors, suppliers, interns, and employees, harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, made by any third-party due to or arising out of your breach of these GT&C or the documents they incorporate by reference, or your violation of any law or the rights of a third-party.

11. Data Protection and Security

RUDLU Unip LDA is committed to protecting your data. We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to secure your Personal Data from accidental loss and from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. However, no internet transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data. For more details on our data protection practices, please refer to our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference into these GT&C.

12. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to the Service immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation if you breach the GT&C. Upon termination, your right to use the Service will immediately cease. If you wish to terminate your account, you may simply discontinue using the Service or contact us to request account deletion.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These GT&C shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Portugal, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any dispute arising from or relating to the subject matter of these GT&C shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Lisbon, Portugal.

14. Changes to these GT&C

RUDLU Unip LDA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to update, change, or replace any part of these GT&C by posting updates and changes to our website. It is your responsibility to check our website periodically for changes. Your continued use of or access to our website or the Service following the posting of any changes to these GT&C constitutes acceptance of those changes. If we make material changes, we will notify you through the Service or by other reasonable means.

15. Miscellaneous

 
• Entire Agreement: These GT&C and any policies or operating rules posted by us on this site or in respect to the Service constitute the entire agreement and understanding between you and us and govern your use of the Service, superseding any prior or contemporaneous agreements, communications, and proposals, whether oral or written, between you and us (including, but not limited to, any prior versions of the GT&C).
 
• Severability: In the event that any provision of these GT&C is determined to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable, such provision shall nonetheless be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and the unenforceable portion shall be deemed to be severed from these GT&C, such determination shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any other remaining provisions.
 
• Waiver: The failure of us to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these GT&C shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
 
• Headings: The headings used in this agreement are included for convenience only and will not limit or otherwise affect these GT&C.

16. Contact Information

Questions about the General Terms and Conditions should be sent to us at contact@rudlu.eu.