Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the SITES Spectral Instruments Registry ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Service.

These terms apply to all users of the Service, including station administrators, researchers, and visitors accessing public data.

2. Service Description

SITES Spectral provides the following services:

• Instruments Registry: A comprehensive database of spectral instruments deployed across SITES stations
• Station Support: Technical coordination and support for SITES field stations
• Calibration Management: Tracking and documentation of instrument calibrations
• Data Coordination: Facilitating FAIR data practices and open science
• ROI Management: Region of Interest definitions for phenocam data processing

3. User Accounts and Access

3.1 Account Types

• Station Users: Read-only access to their station's data
• Station Administrators: Full management access to their station's instruments and ROIs
• Global Administrators: System-wide management access (SITES Spectral staff only)

3.2 Account Responsibilities

As an account holder, you agree to:

• Maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
• Provide accurate and up-to-date information
• Use the Service only for legitimate purposes related to SITES research
• Not share your account credentials with unauthorized individuals

4. Acceptable Use

4.1 Permitted Uses

• Managing instrument records for your affiliated SITES station
• Accessing and downloading data for legitimate research purposes
• Collaborating with other SITES stations and researchers
• Contributing to the quality and completeness of the registry

4.2 Prohibited Uses

You agree NOT to:

• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the system or other users' accounts
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or its infrastructure
• Upload malicious code, viruses, or harmful content
• Use automated tools to scrape or extract data beyond normal use
• Misrepresent your identity or affiliation
• Use the Service for commercial purposes unrelated to SITES research
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations

5. Data and Intellectual Property

5.1 Data Ownership

Data entered into the SITES Spectral Instruments Registry remains the property of the respective SITES stations and affiliated institutions. By entering data, you grant SITES Spectral a license to store, process, and share the data in accordance with our mission.

5.2 Open Data License

5.3 FAIR Principles

We are committed to making data FAIR:

5.4 Attribution

When using data from SITES Spectral, please cite:

6. Service Availability

We strive to maintain continuous availability of the Service, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted access. The Service may be temporarily unavailable due to:

• Scheduled maintenance (announced in advance when possible)
• Unexpected technical issues or security incidents
• Circumstances beyond our control

7. Data Integrity

7.1 Legacy Data Protection

To maintain data integrity for time-series analysis (L2/L3 phenocam products), the system implements special protections for ROI (Region of Interest) data. Modifications to existing ROIs create new versions while preserving the original data for historical continuity.

7.2 Backup and Recovery

We maintain regular backups of all data. However, users are encouraged to maintain their own records of critical information.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We do not warrant that:

• The Service will meet your specific requirements
• The Service will be uninterrupted, timely, or error-free
• The data contained in the Service is complete or accurate

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, SITES Spectral, Lund University, and SITES shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages resulting from your use of or inability to use the Service.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless SITES Spectral, Lund University, SITES, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of the Service or violation of these Terms.

11. Privacy

Your use of the Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal data in compliance with GDPR.

12. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

13. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time for violation of these Terms or for other reasons at our discretion. Upon termination, your right to use the Service will immediately cease.

14. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Sweden. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Swedish courts.

15. Contact Information

16. Acknowledgments

SITES Spectral is funded by the Swedish Research Council and participating universities as part of the Swedish Infrastructure for Ecosystem Science (SITES). We thank all contributing stations and researchers for their commitment to open science and ecosystem monitoring.