Terms of Service

Last updated: 25 May 2026

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your use of the Surfmate mobile application and related website (together, the “Service”), operated by the provider listed in our Imprint. By creating an account or using the Service, you agree to these Terms, our Community Guidelines, and our applicable privacy notices ( website, app).

1. Who we are

The Service is offered by Surfmate (Jolie Bast), Deelwisch 43, 22529 Hamburg, Germany. Contact: info@surf-mate.de.

2. The Service

Surfmate provides tools to log surf sessions and related content, manage your profile, and use social features described in the App and in our privacy policy—including sign-in with Google or Apple, optional phone and contact-based discovery, and QR codes to connect with other users. We may change, limit, or discontinue parts of the Service where reasonably necessary (e.g. maintenance, security, or legal requirements). We will aim to minimise disruption.

3. Your account

You must provide accurate information and keep your login credentials confidential. You are responsible for activity under your account. Notify us promptly if you suspect unauthorised access. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or our Community Guidelines.

4. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

  • Use the Service in a way that violates applicable law or infringes others’ rights
  • Harass, threaten, defraud, or discriminate against others, or encourage others to do so
  • Upload malware, scrape or overload our systems, or circumvent security or access restrictions
  • Impersonate another person or misrepresent your affiliation
  • Mine personal data of other users without permission or use the Service for unsolicited commercial spam
  • Misuse contact-sharing, phone-based discovery, or QR codes to harass others, scrape data, or contact people without a legitimate connection through the Service

Detailed expectations for community behaviour and content are set out in our Community Guidelines.

5. Your content

You retain ownership of content you submit (“User Content”). You grant Surfmate a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, store, reproduce, display, and distribute User Content solely as needed to operate, improve, and promote the Service (including showing your profile and public or follower-visible content to other users as described in our App privacy policy).

You confirm you have the rights needed to share User Content and that it does not violate these Terms or our Community Guidelines.

6. Intellectual property

The Surfmate name, logo, and Service software and design elements are protected. You may not copy or use them except as allowed by law or with our prior written consent.

7. Third-party services

The Service may rely on third-party providers (e.g. hosting, maps, Google Sign-In, Sign in with Apple). Their terms and privacy policies apply to their respective services, as described in our privacy notices.

8. Limitation of liability

To the extent permitted by mandatory law (including German law), Surfmate is liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence, for injury to life, body or health, and under the German Product Liability Act. For slight negligence, Surfmate is liable only for breach of essential contractual obligations and limited to foreseeable, typical damage, unless another rule applies by law.

The Service is provided “as available”. Surfing and outdoor activities involve risk; Surfmate does not guarantee conditions, spot safety, or fitness of information for your decisions.

9. Termination

You may stop using the Service and request deletion of your data as described on our Data deletion page. We may suspend or terminate access if you materially breach these Terms, where required by law, or to protect users and the Service.

10. Changes

We may update these Terms. We will indicate the “Last updated” date and, where appropriate, notify you in the App or by email. Continued use after changes take effect can constitute acceptance of the updated Terms, where permitted by law.

11. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Germany, excluding its conflict-of-law rules, to the extent permitted. Mandatory consumer protections in your country of residence remain unaffected if you qualify as a consumer.

Note: These Terms are a practical template. Have them reviewed by qualified legal counsel for your final product, especially if you add payments, minors, or new features.