Terms of Use

Last updated: October 8, 2025

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Use ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you and the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group ("Cat Specialist Group," "we," "us," or "our") regarding your access to and use of the Catabase platform and its associated services.

By requesting access to, logging into, or using the Catabase in any way, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

2. Eligibility

To use the Catabase, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have a legitimate interest in wild feline conservation, research, or management
• Provide accurate and complete information during the access request process
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction

The Cat Specialist Group reserves the right to refuse access to anyone at our discretion, particularly if we determine that access may pose a risk to wild feline populations or data integrity.

3. Account Registration & Security

3.1 Access Request Process

Access to the Catabase requires administrator approval. When requesting access, you must:

• Provide your full legal name, professional email address, and institutional affiliation
• Clearly state your intended use of the database
• Specify the appropriate access level for your needs
• Complete anti-spam verification (reCAPTCHA)

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. You agree to:

• Never share your username or password with any other person or entity
• Use a strong, unique password and change it when prompted
• Immediately notify administrators if you suspect unauthorized access to your account
• Log out after each session, especially on shared computers
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account

3.3 Account Information Accuracy

You must keep your account information (name, email, affiliation) current and accurate. You can update your affiliation through your profile page. For other changes, contact an administrator.

4. User Roles & Permissions

The Catabase uses a role-based access control system. Your assigned role determines what data you can access:

Important: You may not attempt to access data beyond your assigned permission level. Any attempt to circumvent access controls will result in immediate account termination.

5. Acceptable Use Policy

5.1 Permitted Uses

You may use Catabase data for the following non-commercial purposes:

• Academic research and scientific publications
• Conservation planning and wildlife management
• IUCN Red List assessments and species status reviews
• Educational purposes (teaching, presentations, thesis work)
• Government agency wildlife policy development
• Non-profit conservation organization projects

5.2 Commercial Use Restrictions

To request permission for commercial use, contact:

6. Data Usage & Citation Requirements

6.1 Mandatory Citation

All use of Catabase data in publications, presentations, reports, or any public-facing materials MUST include appropriate citations. Failure to cite data sources is a serious violation of these Terms and constitutes academic misconduct.

6.2 Citation Format

Since Catabase is a data aggregator and repository, citation requirements depend on the data source:

6.3 Respecting Original Publication Rights

Data from published sources in Catabase is subject to the original publication's copyright and licensing terms. You are responsible for understanding and complying with those terms when using the data.

6.4 Pre-Publication Consultation

For sensitive or unpublished data (especially for endangered species), we strongly recommend contacting data owners before publication to:

• Ensure data interpretation is correct
• Avoid compromising ongoing research or conservation efforts
• Maintain good collaborative relationships within the conservation community
• Prevent unintended harm to wildlife populations

7. Data Sharing Restrictions

Catabase uses a four-level sharing classification system. You must respect these restrictions when handling exported data:

Important: When exporting data, the share level of each observation is included in the export file. It is your responsibility to respect these restrictions for each individual data point.

8. Data Export Limits

To ensure fair access and prevent abuse, the following export limits apply:

8.1 Requesting Higher Limits

If you reach your export limit and require additional data access for legitimate research purposes:

• You will see an option to submit an automated request to administrators
• Explain your research project and why you need higher volume access
• Administrators will review and may grant temporary or permanent limit increases
• Bulk data requests for comprehensive analyses (e.g., PhD dissertations) are welcome - just ask!

8.2 Monitoring

Database administrators monitor export activity to ensure compliance with these Terms and to understand user needs. Unusual export patterns may prompt us to contact you to verify your research purposes.

9. Data Contributions (Future Feature)

9.1 Contribution Rights

When the data contribution feature is implemented, Members and above may submit wildlife observation data. By contributing data, you:

• Confirm you have the right to contribute the data (you collected it, or have permission from the collector)
• Guarantee the data is accurate to the best of your knowledge
• Grant the Cat Specialist Group a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free license to store, display, and distribute the data through Catabase
• Retain ownership and copyright of your contributed data
• Can request removal of your contributions (subject to data integrity considerations)

9.2 Default Share Level

New contributions default to "Share Freely" unless you specify otherwise during submission. You can change the share level of your contributions at any time through your account.

9.3 Data Quality Standards

The Cat Specialist Group reserves the right to:

• Review and edit contributed observation data to correct obvious errors, standardize formats, or improve data quality
• Remove or flag low-quality contributions that do not meet scientific standards
• Contact contributors for clarification or additional information
• Merge duplicate observations or resolve conflicting data

Contributors will be notified of significant edits or removals when practical. In cases of significant disagreement, administrators may consult with relevant species specialists to ensure scientific accuracy. Data quality decisions made by the Cat Specialist Group are final.

10. Intellectual Property Rights

10.1 Database Platform

The Catabase platform, including its design, structure, software code, user interface, and compilation of data, is owned by the Cat Specialist Group and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

10.2 Observation Data

Individual observation records are owned by their respective data owners/contributors. Access to data through Catabase does not transfer ownership rights to you. You are licensed to use the data according to these Terms and the specific share level restrictions.

10.3 No Derivative Databases

You may not create a competing or derivative database using data exported from Catabase without explicit written permission. This includes republishing Catabase data on other platforms, creating mirror databases, or incorporating substantial portions of Catabase data into other database products.

11. Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited and will result in immediate account termination:

11.1 Automated Access

Automated access to Catabase (e.g., through scripts, bots, or API connections) is currently not supported. Users who wish to connect external tools (such as GIS software) to Catabase data must contact administrators to discuss technical requirements and appropriate access methods. Unauthorized automated access or web scraping is strictly prohibited.

11.2 Wildlife Protection

You agree not to use precise location data from Catabase in any manner that could:

• Enable or facilitate illegal hunting, poaching, or wildlife trafficking
• Compromise the safety of endangered species populations
• Reveal sensitive denning, breeding, or migration sites to the general public
• Interfere with ongoing conservation or research efforts

12. Disclaimers & Warranties

12.1 Data Accuracy

While we strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date information, the Cat Specialist Group makes no representations or warranties about:

• The accuracy, reliability, completeness, or currency of any observation data
• The availability or continuity of the Catabase service
• The fitness of the data for any particular purpose
• That the service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free

12.2 User Responsibility

You are solely responsible for:

• Verifying the accuracy and appropriateness of data for your specific use
• Independently validating data before using it in publications or decision-making
• Consulting with data owners regarding data quality or interpretation questions
• Understanding the limitations and potential biases in observational data
• Ensuring your use of the data complies with all applicable laws and regulations

12.3 Third-Party Data

Much of the data in Catabase originates from third-party publications and contributors. The Cat Specialist Group is not responsible for errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in contributed or aggregated data.

13. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW:

This limitation applies regardless of the legal theory on which the claim is based (contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise), even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Maximum Liability: In no event shall the Cat Specialist Group's total liability to you for all damages exceed the amount of fees (if any) you paid to access the Catabase in the 12 months preceding the claim. Since Catabase is currently a free service, this means our maximum liability is zero (CHF 0).

14. Account Termination

14.1 Termination by Cat Specialist Group

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for:

• Violation of these Terms of Use
• Suspected fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
• Extended periods of inactivity (typically 3+ years with no login)
• At our sole discretion if we believe termination is necessary to protect wildlife, data integrity, or other users

14.2 Progressive Discipline

For most violations (except severe cases), we follow a progressive discipline approach:

1. Warning: First-time minor violations typically result in a warning email explaining the issue
2. Temporary Suspension: Repeated violations may result in temporary account suspension (1-3 months)
3. Permanent Termination: Severe or repeated violations result in permanent account deletion

Severe violations (such as using data to facilitate poaching, data theft, or system hacking) will result in immediate permanent termination without warning, and may be reported to appropriate authorities.

14.3 Termination by User

You may request termination of your account at any time by contacting an administrator. Upon termination:

• Your account will be deactivated within 30 days
• You will no longer have access to the database
• Your personal data will be handled according to our Privacy Policy
• Your obligations regarding data you've already exported continue (citation requirements, share restrictions, etc.)

14.4 Effect of Termination

Upon termination (by either party), certain provisions of these Terms continue to apply, including:

• Citation requirements for data you've already used
• Restrictions on data sharing and redistribution
• Intellectual property provisions
• Disclaimers and limitations of liability
• Governing law and dispute resolution

15. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Use at any time. When we make changes:

• We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
• For material changes, we will notify active users via email
• We may display a notice on the website
• Changes become effective 30 days after notification (or immediately for legal/security reasons)

Your continued use of the Catabase after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you must stop using the database and may request account termination.

16. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

16.1 Governing Law

These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Switzerland, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

16.2 Jurisdiction

Any disputes arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of the Catabase shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Bern, Switzerland.

16.3 Informal Resolution

Before initiating any formal legal proceedings, we encourage you to contact us to seek an informal resolution. Most concerns can be resolved through open communication with database administrators.

17. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Use, to report violations, or to request permissions: