Terms of Service & User Agreement

Version 2026-07-27 · Effective for new registrations from this date
Governing law: Netherlands (see §51) · Personal data is described in our Privacy Policy.

RCSpotter Terms of Service and User Agreement

1. Introduction

Welcome to RCSpotter (“RCSpotter”, “we”, “our”, or “us”). RCSpotter is an online platform dedicated to the worldwide radio-controlled (RC) hobby community. Our Services enable users to discover clubs, flying fields, boating locations, driving tracks, hobby shops, manufacturers, events, points of interest, communicate with other users, share content, and access current and future features.

These Terms govern your use of all RCSpotter services including websites, mobile applications, APIs, GPS, mapping, geofencing, messaging, user profiles, events, premium features, AI-assisted services, marketplaces, advertising, and any future services.

By accessing or using the Services you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.

2. Definitions

account: [object Object]
ai_features: [object Object]
club: [object Object]
content: [object Object]
event: [object Object]
location_data: [object Object]
marketplace: [object Object]
premium_services: [object Object]
rc_activities: [object Object]
services: [object Object]
user: [object Object]
registered_club: [object Object]
verified_club: [object Object]
volmet: [object Object]
user_content: [object Object]

Capitalized terms used in these Terms have the meanings below unless the context requires otherwise.

3. Eligibility

You represent that you have the legal capacity to enter into this agreement, that your information is accurate, and that your use of the Services complies with applicable law. If acting on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization.

Where minors are permitted to use the Services, any legally required parental or guardian consent remains the responsibility of the user and their parent or guardian under applicable law.

4. Changes

RCSpotter may modify, suspend or discontinue Services and may update these Terms to reflect changes in the Services or applicable law. Material changes will be communicated using reasonable methods. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms where permitted by law.

5. No Professional Advice

Information provided through RCSpotter is for general informational purposes only. RCSpotter does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, legality, safety, suitability or availability of any information. Users remain solely responsible for independently verifying information before relying upon it.

6. Account Registration

To access certain Services you may be required to create an Account. You agree to provide accurate, complete and current information and to keep it updated. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activities occurring under your Account unless caused by RCSpotter’s failure to safeguard its own systems.

You must promptly notify RCSpotter if you believe your Account has been accessed without authorization.

7. Account Security

RCSpotter may implement security measures such as email verification, multi-factor authentication, device verification or identity confirmation. You agree not to circumvent or interfere with these security measures.

8. User Responsibilities

You are solely responsible for:

RCSpotter does not supervise, direct or control your activities in the real world.

your RC Activities;
compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and local rules;
obtaining required permits, licenses or insurance;
the safety of yourself and others;
the content you upload;
your interactions with other users;
any damage, injury or loss resulting from your actions.

9. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

violate any applicable law;
upload unlawful, fraudulent, defamatory or infringing content;
harass, threaten or impersonate others;
distribute malware or malicious code;
attempt unauthorized access to systems or Accounts;
scrape or copy platform data except where expressly permitted;
interfere with the operation or security of the Services;
manipulate rankings, reviews or location information;
use the Services to facilitate illegal RC activities or other unlawful conduct.

10. Community Standards

Users are expected to communicate respectfully and contribute constructively. RCSpotter may remove content that is abusive, discriminatory, misleading, unsafe, or otherwise inconsistent with these Terms or Community Guidelines.

11. Enforcement

RCSpotter reserves the right, in its reasonable discretion and subject to applicable law, to investigate suspected violations of these Terms. We may remove content, restrict functionality, suspend or terminate Accounts, or cooperate with lawful requests from competent authorities where appropriate.

12. Reporting

Users are encouraged to report suspected abuse, illegal activity, intellectual property infringement, dangerous content, inaccurate listings, or security vulnerabilities using the reporting tools provided by RCSpotter.

13. Availability

RCSpotter aims to provide reliable Services but does not guarantee uninterrupted availability. Maintenance, upgrades, outages, security incidents or circumstances beyond our control may temporarily affect access.

14. User-Generated Content

You retain ownership of the content you create and upload to RCSpotter (“User Content”). By submitting User Content, you represent that you own the necessary rights or have permission to submit it. You are solely responsible for your User Content and for any consequences arising from its publication or distribution.

15. License Granted to RCSpotter

By uploading User Content, you grant RCSpotter a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable (only as part of a business transfer), sublicensable license to host, store, reproduce, display, adapt, format, distribute, and make available your User Content solely for the operation, improvement, promotion, security, and provision of the Services.

You also grant RCSpotter the right to create and use aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified datasets derived from User Content and platform activity — including aircraft specifications, model types, field usage patterns, flight-log statistics, club activity metrics, and similar community data — to operate, improve, analyze, research, and develop RCSpotter and related RC hobby products and services, provided such datasets do not identify you personally except where you have clearly published information under your own account or where identification is required by law.

This license ends when your User Content is permanently removed from the Services, except to the extent copies are retained in backups, required by law, or necessary to resolve legal disputes, and except that aggregated or de-identified data that no longer identifies you may be retained.

16. Prohibited Content

You may not upload content that:

infringes intellectual property rights;
contains malware or malicious code;
is fraudulent or deceptive;
promotes illegal activity;
contains unlawful hate speech or credible threats of violence;
unlawfully invades another person’s privacy;
violates applicable law.

17. Photos and Videos

You confirm that you have the right to upload any photographs, videos or livestreams you share. Where recognizable individuals appear, you are responsible for obtaining any permissions required by applicable law. RCSpotter may generate thumbnails, previews, resized versions and technical copies as necessary to provide the Services.

18. Clubs, Events and Listings

Users creating or editing clubs, events, locations or points of interest are responsible for the accuracy and legality of the information submitted. RCSpotter does not guarantee that listings are accurate, current or complete.

Club listings may appear on the map before they are claimed. A Registered Club has been claimed by stewards but may still be provisional. A Verified Club has passed RCSpotter’s verification review. Verification confirms stewardship and listing authenticity to the extent of our process — it is not a safety certification, insurance guarantee, or endorsement of field conditions, airspace, or legal compliance.

19. Reviews and Comments

Reviews and comments must reflect genuine opinions and experiences. Users must not manipulate ratings, create fake reviews, or post knowingly false statements.

20. Private Messaging

Private messaging is provided as a convenience feature. RCSpotter is not responsible for the content of communications between users. We may review or preserve message-related information where reasonably necessary for security, abuse prevention, legal compliance or operation of the Services, consistent with applicable law and our Privacy Policy.

21. Intellectual Property

Except for User Content, the Services and their software, branding, logos, designs, databases, text, graphics and other materials are owned by RCSpotter or its licensors and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

22. Copyright Complaints

If you believe your copyright or other intellectual property rights have been infringed, you may submit a notice containing sufficient information to identify the work, the allegedly infringing material, your contact details and a statement made in good faith. RCSpotter may remove or disable access to allegedly infringing material while investigating.

23. Content Moderation

RCSpotter may, but is not obligated to, review, moderate, edit, restrict, remove or refuse User Content that we reasonably believe violates these Terms, Community Guidelines or applicable law. Failure to remove particular content does not imply approval or endorsement.

24. Location-Based Services

Certain Services use GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular positioning, IP-based geolocation or other technologies to provide location-aware functionality. Location data may be inaccurate, delayed, incomplete or unavailable. You remain solely responsible for determining your actual location and acting safely and lawfully.

25. Live Location Sharing

If you enable live location sharing, you choose what information is shared and with whom. RCSpotter does not guarantee that shared locations are received in real time or displayed accurately. You are responsible for your decision to share location information.

26. Geofencing

Geofencing features are provided for convenience only. Notifications may be delayed, inaccurate or fail to trigger. Geofencing must never be relied upon as a safety system, collision-avoidance system, emergency notification system or legal compliance tool.

27. Maps and Points of Interest

Maps, flying fields, boating locations, driving tracks, hobby shops, manufacturers, clubs and other points of interest may originate from users, public sources or third parties. RCSpotter does not warrant that any listed location is current, safe, publicly accessible, legally usable or suitable for any RC Activity.

28. Events and Meetups

RCSpotter may allow users to create or participate in events. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, RCSpotter does not organize, supervise, sponsor or verify user-created events. Participation is voluntary and entirely at your own risk. Organizers are solely responsible for obtaining permissions, insurance and complying with applicable law.

29. RC Activity Safety

RC Activities involve inherent risks including equipment failure, loss of control, collisions, property damage, environmental damage, personal injury and death. By participating in RC Activities you acknowledge these risks and agree to exercise appropriate care, training and judgment.

30. Compliance with Laws

You are solely responsible for complying with all applicable aviation, road, maritime, environmental, privacy, radio spectrum, safety and other laws and regulations in every jurisdiction where you use the Services or engage in RC Activities.

31. Weather and Operational Information

Weather forecasts, NOTAMs, notices, telemetry, AI-generated recommendations, VOLMET briefings, runway suggestions, or other operational information displayed through the Services may be incomplete, delayed, unavailable, or incorrect. RCSpotter does not guarantee their accuracy or suitability for operational decision-making.

RCSpotter weather features — including free VOLMET for verified clubs — are provided for RC hobby use only. They must not be used for manned aviation, passenger transport, commercial aviation operations, or any activity involving human passengers or crew relying on the data for go/no-go decisions. You assume all risk from relying on any weather or operational information shown in the Services.

32. Property Access

RCSpotter does not grant permission to enter private or restricted property. Users are responsible for obtaining permission before entering any land or facility and for respecting applicable access restrictions.

33. Emergency Situations

The Services are not an emergency service. Do not rely on RCSpotter to contact emergency responders, provide rescue services or transmit emergency alerts. In an emergency, contact the appropriate local emergency services.

34. Assumption of Risk

By using the Services in connection with RC Activities, you voluntarily assume all risks associated with those activities, including risks arising from equipment, terrain, weather, other participants and your own decisions, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

35. No Safety Guarantee

Nothing in the Services constitutes certification that a location, club, event, route or activity is safe, legal or appropriate. You remain solely responsible for your own assessment and decisions.

36. Premium Services

RCSpotter may offer optional paid subscriptions or premium features. Unless otherwise stated at the time of purchase, premium features are provided for the subscription period purchased and may change over time as the Services evolve. Any refunds are subject to applicable law and any published refund policy.

37. Marketplace (Future Feature)

If RCSpotter offers a marketplace or classified advertisements, RCSpotter acts solely as a platform that facilitates contact between users unless explicitly stated otherwise. RCSpotter is not the seller, buyer, importer, exporter, broker or insurer of items listed by users and does not guarantee the identity, honesty, quality, legality or safety of users or goods.

38. Payments

Payments processed through the Services may be handled by independent payment providers. RCSpotter does not store complete payment card details unless expressly stated. Payment processing is subject to the terms of the relevant payment provider.

39. Third-Party Services

The Services may integrate with maps, weather providers, payment providers, authentication providers, analytics providers or other third-party services. RCSpotter is not responsible for the availability, accuracy, content or policies of third-party services.

40. Artificial Intelligence Features

The Services may include AI-assisted functionality such as recommendations, summaries, translations or generated content. AI-generated output may contain errors, omissions or inaccuracies and should not be treated as professional, safety-critical or legal advice.

41. Beta Features

RCSpotter may release experimental or beta features. Beta features may contain defects, change without notice or be discontinued. They are provided for evaluation purposes and may be less reliable than general release features.

42. APIs and Automated Access

Use of APIs or automated access methods must comply with any technical documentation, rate limits and usage policies published by RCSpotter. Unauthorized automated access, excessive requests or attempts to interfere with the Services are prohibited.

43. Disclaimer of Warranties

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Services are provided “as is” and “as available”. RCSpotter disclaims all warranties, whether express, implied or statutory, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement and uninterrupted availability, except where such disclaimers are not permitted by law.

44. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, RCSpotter and its owners, directors, employees, volunteers, moderators and affiliates shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages, loss of profits, loss of business, loss of data or loss of goodwill arising from or relating to the Services. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by applicable law.

45. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless RCSpotter and its owners, affiliates, employees, moderators and representatives from claims, liabilities, damages, losses and reasonable costs, including legal fees where recoverable, arising from your use of the Services, your User Content, your RC Activities or your breach of these Terms or applicable law.

46. Force Majeure

RCSpotter shall not be responsible for delays or failures caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, war, terrorism, civil unrest, government actions, labour disputes, internet failures, power outages, cyberattacks or failures of third-party infrastructure.

47. Suspension and Termination

RCSpotter may suspend, restrict or terminate access to all or part of the Services where we reasonably believe a user has violated these Terms, applicable law, or poses a risk to the platform, other users or third parties. Where appropriate and practicable, we may provide notice and an opportunity to address the issue, subject to legal or security considerations.

48. User Account Closure

You may stop using the Services at any time and may request deletion of your Account, subject to applicable law and our Privacy Policy. Certain information may be retained where required for legal obligations, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, security, or legitimate business purposes.

49. Survival

Any provisions which by their nature should survive termination shall continue to apply after termination. These include, without limitation, provisions relating to intellectual property, licenses, limitation of liability, indemnification, dispute resolution and governing law.

50. Electronic Communications

You consent to receive legally required notices and other communications electronically where permitted by applicable law. Notices may be provided through the Services, by email, or by other reasonable electronic means.

51. Governing Law

Unless mandatory law provides otherwise, these Terms shall be governed by the laws of the Netherlands, without regard to conflict of law rules. Mandatory consumer protections applicable in your place of residence remain unaffected where required by law.

52. Dispute Resolution

The parties agree to make reasonable efforts to resolve disputes through good-faith discussions before commencing legal proceedings. Nothing in these Terms limits either party’s right to seek urgent interim or injunctive relief where available under applicable law.

53. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect to the maximum extent permitted by law.

54. No Waiver

Failure by RCSpotter to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other rights.

55. Assignment

RCSpotter may assign or transfer these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, corporate restructuring or sale of assets, subject to applicable law. Users may not assign their rights or obligations without RCSpotter’s prior written consent.

56. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any policies expressly incorporated by reference, constitute the entire agreement between you and RCSpotter regarding the Services and supersede prior understandings relating to the same subject matter.

57. Contact Information

Legal and policy inquiries may be directed to the contact details published on RCSpotter’s official website. RCSpotter may publish dedicated contact addresses for privacy, abuse, copyright, security or legal matters.

58. Version History

RCSpotter may publish revised versions of these Terms from time to time. Each version will indicate its effective date. Continued use of the Services after a revised version becomes effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms where permitted by applicable law.

59. RC-Only Scope; No Manned Aviation Use

RCSpotter is designed exclusively for the radio-controlled model hobby community. The Services are not certified, approved, or intended for manned aircraft, ultralights, paragliders, drones operated under commercial aviation rules where prohibited, or any operation where human life depends on platform data. You must not use RCSpotter as a substitute for official aviation weather, NOTAM, airspace, or flight-planning services.

60. VOLMET and Free Platform Services

RCSpotter may offer free or complimentary features to users, clubs, or the public — including map access, club listings, lounge tools, and VOLMET weather boards for verified clubs. Such features may be modified, limited, suspended, or discontinued at any time without liability.

Free and complimentary features are provided “as is” for hobby and recreational RC use only. They may be offline, delayed, show stale or incorrect data, or be disabled for maintenance, cost control, abuse prevention, or policy reasons. RCSpotter accepts no responsibility or liability for decisions made using free features, including VOLMET, geofencing, live presence boards, or club statistics.

Where RCSpotter grants verified clubs complimentary VOLMET or related weather access, that benefit may change when club verification lapses, when abuse is detected, or when program terms change. Paid club tiers may include additional features but do not transfer liability to RCSpotter for real-world flying decisions.

61. Club Verification Status

For clarity across the map and club tools:

RCSpotter may revoke verification if a listing becomes inaccurate, is disputed, or is used in violation of these Terms.

Unclaimed / on map: a field or club pin from public or community sources, not yet managed by verified stewards on RCSpotter.
Registered (claimed): stewards have claimed the listing and may manage members and settings while verification is pending or provisional.
Verified (official): RCSpotter has confirmed authorized representation. This badge does not mean RCSpotter operates the field, insures activities, or certifies airworthiness, safety, or legal compliance.

62. Aggregated Community Data and Analytics

RCSpotter’s value to the worldwide RC community includes responsible use of community-generated data. Subject to our Privacy Policy, we may compile statistics and insights from hangar specifications, logbook activity, club membership patterns, map usage, and similar inputs when aggregated or anonymized. We will not sell personally identifiable pilot profiles to third parties for unrelated marketing without appropriate legal basis and notice where required.

You must not scrape, bulk-export, mirror, or systematically harvest platform data except through features or APIs we explicitly provide.

63. Community Growth and Promotional Programs

RCSpotter may run time-limited promotional programs — for example, complimentary club tier access when a verified club achieves meaningful member flight-logging activity over a defined period. Program rules (thresholds, qualifying activity, duration, and rewards) will be published on RCSpotter or communicated to eligible stewards.

Promotional benefits are discretionary, non-transferable, and may be withheld or revoked in cases of fraud, duplicate accounts, synthetic activity, or Terms violations. RCSpotter may amend or end programs at any time.

64. Voluntary Donations

RCSpotter may accept voluntary donations through third-party payment providers (such as PayPal or BackMe). Donations are gifts to support platform development and operations unless a specific campaign states otherwise. Donations do not automatically grant paid tiers, refunds, equity, or service-level guarantees. Donation pages are provided for convenience; payment processing is subject to the third-party provider’s terms.

65. Advertising and Sponsorship

RCSpotter may display advertising or sponsored placements in the future. Where implemented, we aim to keep ads relevant to the RC aircraft and broader RC hobby community and to label them clearly. Ad placement may vary by tier (for example, ad-free experiences for supporting members). Advertising does not constitute endorsement of advertised products unless explicitly stated.

66. Final Acknowledgement

By accessing or using the Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and User Agreement and our Privacy Policy.