Important Notice: BalloonTrack.org is intended for users located in the United States. By using this service, you represent that you are accessing it from within the United States or acknowledge that this service is designed for US users and operates under US law.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using BalloonTrack.org ("the Service"), you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this agreement. If you do not agree to these Terms of Service, please do not use the Service.

2. Description of Service

BalloonTrack.org is a community-powered platform for reporting and mapping mylar balloon litter found in desert and open spaces. The Service allows users to:

• Create an account
• Report balloon sightings with location data
• View a public map of all reported balloon sightings
• Contribute to environmental awareness efforts

3. User Accounts

To submit balloon reports, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Maintain the security of your password
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• Be responsible for all activities that occur under your account

You must be at least 13 years old to create an account.

4. User Content and Conduct

4.1 Accuracy of Reports

You agree to submit accurate and truthful balloon sighting reports. Reports should represent actual balloon litter you have encountered.

4.2 Public Nature of Reports

All reports are publicly visible and will display your username. By submitting a report, you consent to this public display.

4.3 Prohibited Content

You agree not to submit content that:

• Is false, misleading, or fraudulent
• Is defamatory, obscene, or offensive
• Violates any laws or regulations
• Infringes on intellectual property rights
• Contains spam or unsolicited advertising
• Includes personal information of others without consent
• Promotes illegal activities

4.4 Username Guidelines

Choose a username that is appropriate and does not impersonate others, include offensive language, or violate any rights.

5. License to User Content

By submitting a balloon report, you grant BalloonTrack.org a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your report data for the purpose of operating and promoting the Service. You retain ownership of your content.

6. Content Moderation

We reserve the right to:

• Review, edit, or remove any user content
• Suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms
• Remove reports that appear false or inappropriate

We are not obligated to monitor content but may do so at our discretion.

7. Location Data and Geolocation

If you use the geolocation feature, you grant the Service permission to access your device's location. This feature is optional, and you can manually enter coordinates instead.

Be aware that submitting precise location data may reveal information about your movements and activities. Use discretion when reporting locations.

8. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its design, functionality, and original content (excluding user-submitted reports), is owned by BalloonTrack.org and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

9. Third-Party Services

The Service uses third-party services including Google Maps. Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and conditions.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not guarantee that:

• The Service will be uninterrupted or error-free
• User reports are accurate or reliable
• Any errors will be corrected
• The Service will meet your requirements

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, BALLOONTRACK.ORG SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES RESULTING FROM:

• Your use or inability to use the Service
• Any unauthorized access to or use of our servers
• Any bugs, viruses, or similar harmful code
• Any content obtained from the Service
• Any user content or conduct

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless BalloonTrack.org from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another party
• Content you submit to the Service

13. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for any reason, including violation of these Terms. Upon termination:

• Your right to use the Service ceases immediately
• Your submitted reports will remain on the map but be attributed to "Anonymous"
• We may delete your account data in accordance with our Privacy Policy

You may delete your account at any time by contacting us.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes by updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

15. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States, without regard to conflict of law provisions.

16. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service will be resolved through good faith negotiations. If negotiations fail, disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

18. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us through the email address displayed on our website.

← Back to Map