Last Updated: May 15, 2025
Welcome to the Barking Spider Research Institute website. The following Terms of Use govern your access to and use of our website, located at barkingspider.world, any subdomains, and our mobile applications (collectively, the "Service").
Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using our Service. By accessing or using any part of the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree to all the terms and conditions of this agreement, then you may not access the Service.
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the Service, you affirm that you are at least 16 years of age or older, or an emancipated minor, or possess legal parental or guardian consent, and are fully able and competent to enter into and comply with these Terms of Use.
If you are accessing or using the Service on behalf of a business or entity, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that business or entity to these Terms of Use and that you agree to these Terms of Use on behalf of that business or entity.
2. Changes to Terms
We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms of Use at any time. If a revision is material, we will provide at least 30 days' notice prior to any new terms taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion.
By continuing to access or use our Service after any revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised terms. If you do not agree to the new terms, you are no longer authorized to use the Service.
3. Access and Use of the Service
3.1 License to Use
Subject to these Terms of Use, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to access and use the Service for your personal, non-commercial use, or in the case of educational institutions and researchers, for educational and research purposes.
3.2 Prohibited Uses
You agree not to use the Service:
- In any way that violates any applicable national, federal, state, local, or international law or regulation
- To impersonate or attempt to impersonate the Barking Spider Research Institute, an institute employee, another user, or any other person or entity
- To engage in any other conduct that restricts or inhibits anyone's use or enjoyment of the Service, or which may harm the Barking Spider Research Institute or users of the Service
- To attempt to gain unauthorized access to, interfere with, damage, or disrupt any parts of the Service, the server on which the Service is stored, or any server, computer, or database connected to the Service
- To use any robot, spider, or other automatic device, process, or means to access the Service for any purpose, including monitoring or copying any of the material on the Service
- To introduce any viruses, Trojan horses, worms, logic bombs, or other malicious or technologically harmful material
3.3 Service Modifications
We reserve the right to withdraw or modify the Service, and any service or material we provide via the Service, in our sole discretion without notice. We will not be liable if for any reason all or any part of the Service is unavailable at any time or for any period.
4. User Accounts
4.1 Account Creation
Some features of our Service may require you to create an account and provide accurate, complete, and current information. You are responsible for safeguarding the password that you use to access the Service and for any activities or actions under your password.
4.2 Account Security
You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to or use of your username or password or any other breach of security. You should use particular caution when accessing your account from a public or shared computer so that others are not able to view or record your password or other personal information.
4.3 Account Termination
We reserve the right to disable any user account, at any time in our sole discretion for any or no reason, including if, in our opinion, you have violated any provision of these Terms of Use.
5. Intellectual Property and Content
5.1 Ownership
The Service and its original content (excluding content provided by users), features, and functionality are and will remain the exclusive property of the Barking Spider Research Institute and its licensors. The Service is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws of both the United Kingdom and foreign countries.
5.2 License to Use Content
Unless otherwise indicated, all content, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, audio clips, and data compilations, is owned by or licensed to the Barking Spider Research Institute.
Our content is made available under the following licenses:
- Educational and Personal Use: Content may be used for personal, educational, and non-commercial purposes with proper attribution to the Barking Spider Research Institute.
- Research Use: Researchers may use our data and findings in accordance with standard academic citation practices.
- Commercial Use: Any commercial use of our content requires prior written permission.
5.3 Audio Library
Our barking spider audio recordings are licensed under specific terms:
- Educational use is permitted with attribution
- Research use requires citation of our database
- Commercial use requires specific licensing and permission
Contact permissions@barkingspider.world for licensing information.
6. User-Generated Content
6.1 Content Contributions
Our Service may allow you to submit content, including but not limited to photos, audio recordings, videos, comments, and spider sighting reports ("User Content"). You retain ownership rights in your User Content.
6.2 Content License
By submitting User Content to the Service, you grant the Barking Spider Research Institute a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, and display such content for research, educational, and promotional purposes related to our mission.
For spider sighting reports and acoustic recordings, you specifically agree that these may be:
- Added to our scientific database
- Used in scientific publications with appropriate credit
- Shared with partner research institutions
- Used in educational materials about barking spiders
6.3 Content Representations
You represent and warrant that:
- Your User Content is accurate to the best of your knowledge
- You own or have the necessary rights to grant the license above
- Your User Content does not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyright, contractual rights, or any other rights of any person or entity
6.4 Content Monitoring
We reserve the right, but not the obligation, to monitor, edit, or remove any User Content that violates these Terms of Use or that we find objectionable. We take no responsibility and assume no liability for any User Content that you or any other user or third party posts or transmits using our Service.
7. Research Data Use
7.1 Scientific Database
Data provided to us through spider sightings, field reports, or our mobile applications becomes part of our scientific database and may be used for research purposes, including:
- Population monitoring and conservation assessments
- Acoustic behavior studies
- Habitat range mapping
- Climate impact assessments
7.2 Data Sharing with Partners
We may share anonymized research data with partner institutions, universities, and conservation organizations for scientific research purposes. Personal identifying information is removed from such shared data unless you have explicitly consented to be identified.
7.3 Citations and Attribution
Scientific papers and publications that use our data will cite the Barking Spider Research Institute database according to academic standards. If your contribution has been significant, we may contact you regarding co-authorship or acknowledgment opportunities.
8. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. THE BARKING SPIDER RESEARCH INSTITUTE HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
THE BARKING SPIDER RESEARCH INSTITUTE MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT:
- THE SERVICE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS
- THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE
- THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF THE SERVICE WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE
ANY MATERIAL DOWNLOADED OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED THROUGH THE USE OF THE SERVICE IS DONE AT YOUR OWN RISK, AND YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OF ANY SUCH MATERIAL.
9. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE BARKING SPIDER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, THAT RESULT FROM THE USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE SERVICE.
IN NO EVENT WILL THE BARKING SPIDER RESEARCH INSTITUTE'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, OR CAUSES OF ACTION EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID TO THE BARKING SPIDER RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN THE LAST SIX (6) MONTHS OR, IF GREATER, ONE HUNDRED POUNDS (£100).
THESE LIMITATIONS WILL APPLY EVEN IF THE BARKING SPIDER RESEARCH INSTITUTE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
10. Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Barking Spider Research Institute, its officers, directors, employees, and agents, from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debt, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees) arising from:
- Your use of and access to the Service
- Your violation of any term of these Terms of Use
- Your violation of any third-party right, including without limitation any copyright, property, or privacy right
- Any claim that your User Content caused damage to a third party
This defense and indemnification obligation will survive these Terms of Use and your use of the Service.
11. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights. If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court, the remaining provisions of these Terms will remain in effect.
