Terms and conditions.

01 General information

These general terms and conditions of use (hereinafter referred to as "Terms") constitute a contract between you and the owner of the PetHive Application.

The Terms are intended to regulate, in all cases, access to and use of the PetHive Application (as defined below), available on iOS and Android operating systems (with the mentions and limitations set out in these Terms).

Use of the Application involves accessing and using the functionalities available therein, as well as exploring and using the digital content made available, where applicable (all of these being referred to in these Terms as "Services" and defined below).

Please read these Terms carefully before using the Application in any way, as they govern the relationship between PetHive and you and describe our respective rights and obligations when using the Services.

Our Privacy Policy, available at Privacy Policy, forms an integral part of these Terms and is intended to detail and explain the personal data we collect, as well as our privacy practices when you use the Application.

02 Definitions

• "Application" means the PetHive digital platform, available through a mobile application, which enables the creation and use of an Account and through which the Services can be accessed and used.
• "Terms" has the meaning assigned in section 1 above.
• "Account" means the electronic account created and held by you in the Application, accessible on the basis of valid authentication data, the existence of which is necessary for the use of the Services.
• "Intellectual Property Rights" means all present and future intellectual property rights, including the PetHive brand, trademarks, trade names, visual identity elements, copyright, trade secrets, patents and any other similar rights.
• "PetHive" means, depending on context, either the owner of the Application or the trade name and/or brand under which the Application is operated.
• "Privacy Policy" has the meaning assigned in section 1 above.
• "Services" means all functionalities made available through the Application, consisting mainly of the ability to publish, view and manage announcements relating to lost, found and adoptable pets.

03 PetHive account

3.1. Creating and using the PetHive Account

Account creation can be done (i) automatically, by logging in and retrieving identification data stored by Apple, (ii) automatically, by logging in and retrieving data stored by Google, or (iii) by completing a registration form, which includes providing valid, correct and complete personal, contact and identification data (name, email address and secure password).

When method (iii) is used, the email address will be validated by sending a unique code (OTP), which must subsequently be entered in the Application. After creating the Account, you will be able to access the Application and Services, access the digital content made available and contact PetHive through the contact form.

The Account is strictly personal and may not be used by other persons. You are obliged to maintain the confidentiality of your Account credentials. You are responsible for all claims, damages or expenses incurred by us or third parties caused by abusive use of the Services.

Details on how we store and process personal data in the context of Account use can be found in our Privacy Policy.

3.2. Account deletion

You may cease using the Services at any time by uninstalling the Application from your device. You may also delete your Account at any time by following the steps in the "Delete account" section of the Application. Details on how we delete and/or store data can be found in the Privacy Policy.

04 How to contact PetHive

You can contact us at any time from Monday to Friday between 9:00 and 18:00, by email at: [email protected]

PetHive is present only on the following online channels and social media:

• Facebook: pethive.ro
• Instagram: pethive.ro
• TikTok: pethive.ro

Any other social media profile or page that is not expressly indicated by PetHive does not represent PetHive and/or PetHive Services. PetHive assumes no responsibility for content published and actions taken through such third-party online media.

There will be a special section in the PetHive Application where you can provide us with feedback and suggestions.

05 Acceptance of Terms. Subsequent modifications

The Terms form part of the distance contract documentation governing the relationship between you and PetHive at the time of using the Application, creating the Account and accessing the Services.

By creating an Account and/or using the Application and/or accessing the Services, you expressly and unequivocally accept the Terms in their entirety.

We will periodically update and modify the Terms to reflect various changes to the way the Application operates or any changes to applicable legal provisions. Modifications to the Terms will be communicated by email to customers who have an Account; if we do not receive any objection from you within 10 working days, this will be considered tacit acceptance of the modifications.

Where modification is necessary as a result of a mandatory legislative change, you do not have the right to object, but you may at any time cease using the Services and/or delete your Account and/or uninstall the Application.

06 Intellectual property

6.1. PetHive's rights

All Intellectual Property Rights are held exclusively by PetHive or its licensors. No provision of these Terms grants users any ownership rights over these elements, except for a limited, revocable, non-exclusive and non-transferable licence to use the Application, strictly for personal and non-commercial purposes, subject to compliance with these Terms.

6.2. User content

Users who publish announcements or other materials in the Application remain the owners of the intellectual property rights to their own content. By publishing it, the user grants PetHive a free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, sub-licensable, assignable and internationally valid licence to use, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, translate, create derivative works, distribute, communicate to the public and display the published content, for the purpose of providing, operating, securing and improving the Application and Services, as well as for the purpose of promoting PetHive.

PetHive may grant sub-licences to third parties to the extent necessary for the purposes mentioned. By publishing content, the user declares and warrants that they hold all rights necessary to grant the above licence and that such content does not infringe the rights of any third party.

6.3. Third-party content

PetHive does not control and does not systematically verify content published by other users or third parties and assumes no responsibility for its accuracy, legality or compliance. Responsibility lies exclusively with the users/third parties who published it. PetHive reserves the right to remove, block or disable access to any content that violates the Terms, applicable legislation or third-party rights.

Any complaint regarding alleged infringements of intellectual property rights may be sent to PetHive through the contact methods indicated in the Terms.

6.4. Limitations

Users undertake not to copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, publish, display, sell, licence, modify, adapt, translate, decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer or create derivative works of the Application, Services or PetHive materials, outside the limited licence granted by these Terms, without the prior express written consent of PetHive.

Users may not use the PetHive brand, logo or other distinctive elements of PetHive, for commercial or non-commercial purposes, in a manner that may create confusion or suggest PetHive's approval, without express prior written authorisation.

07 Limitation of liability

The Application is intended to facilitate the publication and consultation of announcements relating to pet adoption, lost or found animals. PetHive acts exclusively as the platform provider and is not a party to the relationships established between users as a result of using the Application.

PetHive does not pre-verify content published by users and does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of information included in announcements. Decisions made by users based on information available in the Application are made at their own risk.

PetHive does not guarantee that animals presented in announcements are legally owned by the persons who publish them and is not responsible for any violations of applicable legislation regarding animal protection or property rights.

PetHive is not responsible for the behaviour, identity, good faith or intentions of users, nor for any unlawful, abusive or fraudulent acts committed by them, to the extent that PetHive did not have actual knowledge thereof.

PetHive cannot be held liable for any direct or indirect, material or moral damages, including bodily injury, damage to property, financial losses or other consequences resulting from interaction with animals or with other users of the Application.

Any meeting, interaction or handover/receipt of animals between users as a result of using the Application takes place exclusively at their own responsibility.

PetHive assumes no responsibility for the health status of animals, their medical history, behaviour, temperament or degree of socialisation, and does not guarantee the outcome of adoptions or efforts to recover lost animals.

The Application is provided "as is", and PetHive does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.

7.1. Provisions applicable to NGOs and shelters

NGOs, shelters and other legal entities that use the Application to publish announcements relating to pet adoption act on their own behalf and at their own responsibility. PetHive does not act as representative, contractor, agent, intermediary or guarantor of these entities and does not validate, certify or endorse their activity, practices or procedures.

PetHive assumes no responsibility for adoption criteria established by NGOs or shelters, for decisions to accept or refuse adoptions, for documents used in adoption procedures, or for any fees, donations or other contributions requested by them.

08 Accessibility of the Application and Services. Technical requirements

PetHive Services are available exclusively through the Application, which can only be downloaded from official app stores (App Store, Google Play Store). PetHive assumes no responsibility for applications downloaded from unauthorised sources.

To use the Services, users must have a compatible smartphone with an updated operating system. Use of the Application requires an active internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).

iOS: The PetHive Application is compatible with devices running the iOS operating system and for which the Application can be downloaded from the App Store.

Android: The PetHive Application is compatible with devices running the Android operating system and for which the Application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

For optimal operation, users are encouraged, and in certain situations may be required, to install available updates to the Application and the device's operating system.

09 Prohibited content

Users of the Application are prohibited from publishing, uploading or transmitting illegal, defamatory, slanderous, obscene, vulgar, offensive, threatening, abusive, homophobic, racist or otherwise discriminatory content, or any other content deemed unacceptable by PetHive.

Users are also prohibited from publishing content containing viruses, malware or other programmes intended to affect the operation of PetHive platforms or other users' devices.

PetHive reserves the right to moderate Application content and may remove or modify any information that violates these rules, without prior notice. Violation of these rules may lead to suspension or termination of access to the Application and the user's Account.

If a user identifies prohibited or illegal content, they must notify PetHive through the methods indicated in these Terms.

10 Prohibition of unauthorised activities

Any activity aimed at or resulting in compromising the security of PetHive's computer systems, including the Application, is strictly prohibited, including: unauthorised scanning of the network or Application infrastructure; exploitation of vulnerabilities; SQL Injection, XSS, brute-force, DDoS attacks or any other techniques intended to affect the integrity, availability or confidentiality of data; unauthorised access to servers, databases or any other technical resources.

PetHive reserves the right to monitor and record suspicious activities. Any attempt at unauthorised access may result in immediate restriction of access to the Application and may be reported to the competent authorities.

11 Applicable law and jurisdiction. Complaint resolution

These Terms, as well as any other extra-contractual rights, are subject to the applicable legislation in Romania.

If you encounter problems or have suggestions related to the use of the Application and/or Services, we encourage you to contact us through the channels indicated in the Application or in these Terms. We will carefully analyse complaints and suggestions and will respond within 30 (thirty) calendar days.

Submitting a complaint does not limit users' right to address the competent authorities or courts if necessary. Any dispute will be resolved by the competent Romanian courts and authorities.