Terms of Use for the “PaludiScout.de” website

The German version of these Terms of Use shall prevail.

1. Purpose and scope

PaludiScout.de is an online information and networking platform run by the University of Greifswald, designed to bring together suppliers and customers of technology and services for the management of wet peatlands and paludiculture. In addition, PaludiScout.de provides information on technical and specialist background knowledge, events and funding opportunities. In particular, PaludiScout.de enables:

• the presentation of technical and service offerings in the form of standardised profiles for registered users (see section 2.2),
• access to information resources (e.g. the technology catalogue, event announcements, information on funding, etc.) for visitors (see section 2.3)

PaludiScout.de does not provide any advisory or intermediary services to users of the platform. PaludiScout.de is also not a trading platform. The presentation of technology or services on PaludiScout.de does not constitute a recommendation on the part of the University of Greifswald.

The following Terms of Use apply to visitors to the website (unregistered users) and to providers of Paludi technology and services (registered users). Visitors to the website accept these Terms of Use by using the site; providers also accept the Terms of Use by giving their express consent during the registration process (see point 3).

2. Roles and stakeholders

2.1 University of Greifswald (operator)

The University of Greifswald (Domstraße 11, 17487 Greifswald) operates the website PaludiScout.de. It provides solely the technical platform and selected information content. However, it is neither a supplier nor a purchaser of Paludi technology or services.

2.2 Providers (registered users)

Suppliers are individuals or legal entities who register free of charge on PaludiScout.de and, via the user account created upon registration, make their own information about Paludi technology or services publicly available in the form of so-called profiles.

2.3 Visitors (unregistered users)

Visitors can use PaludiScout.de free of charge and without registering to find out more and view content.

3. Registration and creation of a user account by the provider

The publication of content (see point 4) in the profiles requires providers to register and set up a user account. Registration, the user account and the publication of content by providers are free of charge. By registering, the provider expressly accepts these Terms of Use.

4. Publication of content by providers

4.1 Uploading content

Users registered as providers can use their user accounts to upload contact details, information, descriptions and images relating to equipment (e.g. engines) and services used in the management of wet peatlands in the form of profiles, in order to make these publicly available on PaludiScout.de.

4.2 Review prior to publication

Before content uploaded by providers is published, it undergoes a limited review by the operator of PaludiScout.de, covering both form and content. The sole purpose of this review is to

• to exclude content that is clearly irrelevant or otherwise unsuitable from publication,
• to check that the relevant fields in the profile have been completed, in order to ensure the quality of the published profiles and, consequently, the quality of the website as a whole,
• to check whether the content meets the inclusion criteria of PaludiScout.de (see section 4.3).

4.3 Admission criteria

The admission criteria include,

• that the technology or service intended for publication is suitable for the purpose of managing wet peatlands and
• that, in the case of engines, the contact pressure does not exceed 408 g/cm².

4.4 Limitations of the audit

The operator’s review does not constitute a professional, technical, legal or safety-related assessment of the content intended for publication by the providers; it merely involves a rough plausibility check. Notwithstanding this check, the operator accepts no warranty or liability whatsoever for the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the content published by providers on PaludiScout.de (see section 4.5).

Visitors are responsible for checking whether the technology or services are suitable for their specific purpose and comply with the applicable legal requirements. This is because target water levels in peatlands are not uniformly defined, but depend on the local site characteristics, the relevant regulatory requirements and the applicable funding guidelines. The information provided on PaludiScout.de does not replace professional advice or official approval.

4.5 Providers’ responsibilities

Responsibility for the content published by providers on PaludiScout.de lies solely with the respective provider. The operator accepts no warranty or liability for the technology presented or the services described

• actually possess the stated characteristics,
• are suitable for the purposes stated, or
• are legally or technically permissible.

In particular, the provider undertakes to,

• not to publish any unlawful or misleading content,
• not to misuse PaludiScout.de,
• to keep their contact details and content accurate and up to date, and
• to keep his login details confidential.

5. No right to publication

There is no entitlement to have content uploaded by users published on PaludiScout.de. The operator reserves the right to reject, subsequently block or remove content, particularly if it does not serve the purpose of PaludiScout or breaches these Terms of Use.

6. Copyright, rights of use

The provider warrants that they hold the necessary rights to the content uploaded by them for publication, including any graphics, tables, images and logos. They grant the operator a non-exclusive right of use, unlimited in time and geographical scope, to the extent necessary for the operation of PaludiScout.de.

7. Final provisions

7.1 Changes to the Terms of Use

The operator reserves the right to amend these Terms of Use. Contributors are required to accept these changes if they wish to continue making their own content publicly available on PaludiScout.de as registered users.

7.2 Governing law and jurisdiction

The law of the Federal Republic of Germany shall apply. The place of jurisdiction is Greifswald.

7.3 Severability clause

Should any provision of these Terms of Use be invalid in whole or in part, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.

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