Terms of use

Draft. Have it reviewed by a lawyer before launch. The German version is authoritative.

Last updated: 6 October 2026 (draft)

1. Scope and provider

These terms apply to the use of GroundHopper.net (website and apps) provided by BYTEPOTATO UG (haftungsbeschränkt), c/o Daniel Ference Broek, Kurze Str. 6, 37073 Göttingen, Germany ("we"). Conflicting terms of users do not apply.

2. What GroundHopper.net is

GroundHopper.net is a platform for groundhoppers: log the matches you attend, research grounds, keep your statistics according to your own counting rules, share photos and videos, and follow other hoppers. Ground and match data is partly maintained by the community.

3. Account

(1) Most features require an account. You must be at least 16 years old.

(2) One account per person. You sign in with Apple, with Google or with a passkey; there are no passwords and no e-mail sign-in. Protect the devices and accounts you sign in with; you are responsible for actions taken through your account to the extent you are at fault.

(3) Because we do not have your e-mail address, we cannot restore access by e-mail. It is best to set up a second sign-in method (e.g. a synced passkey in addition to Apple or Google). The last sign-in method of an account cannot be removed.

(4) You can delete your account in the settings at any time, which ends the contract of use. Paid periods are not refunded pro rata; an App Store subscription must additionally be cancelled with Apple.

4. Free use and Premium

(1) Logging visits, ground search, counting rules, core statistics, social features, import and export are free.

(2) Premium extends the scope, in particular more photos and videos per visit and extended statistics. The current scope is shown before you subscribe.

(3) App Store subscription: Premium is available only as a monthly, automatically renewing subscription. You conclude it with Apple in the iOS app; Apple's terms apply in addition. The price is shown in the App Store before you subscribe and depends on your country. The subscription renews for one month at a time unless you cancel it in your Apple Account settings at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Billing, cancellation and refunds are handled exclusively by Apple.

(4) Trial: new subscribers can try Premium free for 7 days if Apple offers it to you. Unless the subscription is cancelled at least 24 hours before the trial ends, it converts into the paid monthly subscription.

(5) Website: you cannot buy anything on the website. If you sign in there with the account you subscribed with in the app, Premium applies on the website too for as long as the subscription runs.

5. Your content

(1) You keep all rights in your photos, videos, texts and comments.

(2) You grant us a simple (non-exclusive), free, non-transferable right to store them on the platform, adapt them technically (e.g. resize, remove metadata) and make them available according to your visibility settings — in the app, on the website and as previews on ground pages. A photo chosen as cover of a ground may be shown there as long as you do not delete it. The right ends when you delete the content or your account. We do not use your content for advertising and do not pass it on to third parties.

(3) Only post content for which you hold the necessary rights. Do not put identifiable people in the focus of photos against their will; respect their right to their own image.

(4) In particular, unlawful, insulting, discriminating, violence-glorifying or promotional content, calls for violence, publishing other people's private data, and spam are not allowed.

6. Contributions to the ground and match database

(1) Information about grounds and matches (e.g. name, location, opening, demolition, fixture) are contributions to a shared database. You grant us a simple, perpetual, free right to use them; it continues after you delete your account, then without any link to you.

(2) Only enter data you know yourself or have from freely usable sources. Copying entire datasets of other providers is not allowed.

(3) Depending on your trust level, contributions are applied immediately or reviewed first. We may edit, merge (e.g. duplicates) or reject contributions; there is no right to have them included. Kickabout pitches and venues without regular match play are labelled as such.

7. Moderation and suspensions

(1) You can report content with the report function. We review reports and remove or hide unlawful content or content violating these terms.

(2) In case of violations we may remove content and suspend accounts temporarily or permanently, taking the severity into account, and inform you of the reasons where legally permitted. You can contest a decision at [email protected].

8. Availability and data

We strive for uninterrupted operation but do not owe any particular availability. Ground and match data partly comes from the community and third-party sources; we do not guarantee its accuracy, in particular kick-off times. Check fixtures with the club before travelling. Back up your data with the export function if needed.

9. Liability

(1) We are liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence, for injury to life, body or health, and under the German Product Liability Act.

(2) For slight negligence we are only liable for breach of an essential contractual obligation (one whose fulfilment makes proper performance of the contract possible in the first place and on whose fulfilment you may regularly rely), limited to the damage typical for the contract and foreseeable.

(3) Liability is otherwise excluded.

10. Changes to these terms

We may change these terms with effect for the future if there is a valid reason (e.g. new features, changes in law). We will inform you at least six weeks in advance in the app and on the website. If you do not object within that period, the changes are deemed accepted; we will point out this consequence in the notice. If you object, either party may terminate the contract.

11. Final provisions

German law applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. If you are a consumer habitually resident in another EU member state, the mandatory consumer protection provisions of that state remain unaffected.