Terms of Use and Service

Platform Purpose

The platform's purpose is to provide an open-access repository where researchers, environmentalists, educators and enthusiasts can upload, download and share turtle sound recordings. The Platform offers chelonian bioacoustics recordings and metadata, search tools, download, upload, collaboration and educational/institutional resources.

Use

• Users fill out a form to describe the recording, select access preferences and upload the audio file and associated metadata.

• Each recording undergoes a brief quality review process before being added to the database.

• Users have control over the privacy settings of their recordings, allowing them to share data openly or restrict access to specific collaborators or institutions.

• Different levels of restriction and visibility of contributions support both open access and data/metadata protection, to meet diverse research and conservation needs.

• Users can select from a variety of access levels to manage the visibility and distribution of their data during the initial protection period.

Access Level Options

• Immediate open access – The complete dataset and metadata are publicly available (with the exception of restricted metadata*).

• Delayed access – Data becomes publicly accessible only after an embargo period specified by the user, which can vary from 1, 2, 3, 5 or 8 years.

• Restricted access upon approval – Interested users must submit a formal access request, subject to approval by the contributor. The user must also specify an embargo period, and data is fully available after a maximum of 8 years.

• Automatic transition to open access: at the end of the embargo period defined by the user, all datasets will become fully open access under the selected license. Contributors will be notified before this transition, allowing them to update or remove their data if necessary.

Restricted Metadata

* Sensitive metadata that may reveal specific locations or information that, if disclosed, may pose a risk to wildlife or contribute to unauthorized activities, is hidden from the public, but may be shared with approved conservation entities. Restricted metadata is not subject to automatic transition to open access and will never be publicly disclosed unless the user actively changes it to open access data.

Sound Classification and Features

• Each recording on the platform is annotated with metadata labels, including but not limited to: species name, sex, age, geographic location, date, recording settings, acoustic characteristics and environmental context.

• The platform offers tools to search and filter recordings through these labels, allowing users to customize their searches and locate data relevant to specific research questions.

• Reference numbering system: each sound or sound sequence uploaded receives a unique reference number, facilitating precise citations in peer-reviewed publications, reports and audiovisual productions.

• Registered users can follow specific species or researcher profiles and subscribe to receive updates on new audio uploads, database improvements and community news.

User Account

• Registration: for certain functionalities (upload, comments, data submission) it is necessary to create an account. Provide accurate information and update when necessary.

• Responsibility: you are responsible for the accuracy of your credentials and for all activities carried out under your account.

• Termination: we may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or are suspected of misuse.

Uploads and Intellectual Property

• By submitting files (audio, photos, annotations), you guarantee you have the necessary rights to share that content and declare that the use respects environmental legislation, intellectual property and third-party rights.

• Licensing: by uploading, you grant the Platform a non-exclusive, sub-licensable, transferable, worldwide and royalty-free license to store, reproduce, display, distribute and archive the material, according to the chosen visibility settings (public, restricted, private). We recommend selecting the appropriate license (e.g.: Creative Commons) and indicating authorship.

Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Submit illegal, defamatory content that violates the privacy of third parties or contains sensitive data without authorization.

• Use the Platform for unlawful purposes, unauthorized mass collection, abusive scraping or reverse engineering.

• Attempt to compromise security, run malware or practices that harm the Platform.

Downloads and Data Use

Content made available for download must be used in accordance with the associated license and applicable legislation. For commercial uses or redistribution, obtain permission when required by the license or rights holder.

Disclaimer

• The Platform seeks to guarantee the integrity and conservation of files, but does not guarantee uninterrupted availability, absolute accuracy of metadata, nor that the services will be free of errors.

• We are not responsible for direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising from the use of the Platform, except where prohibited by law.

Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by applicable law, our total liability arising from these Terms shall not exceed the amount of any fees paid by the user in the last 12 months (if any); in the absence of fees, such liability shall be limited as required by local law.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify the Platform and its representatives against claims arising from violation of these Terms, misuse of the account or violation of third-party rights.

Modifications to the Terms

We may change these Terms. Significant changes will be communicated; continued use after notification constitutes acceptance.

Termination

We may suspend or terminate access for violation of these Terms or for operational reasons. Users may close their account at any time; data retention policies apply.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the country where the maintaining entity is established. For disputes, the parties elect the Court of the District of Manaus, Amazonas (unless otherwise required by law).

Final Provisions

• If any clause is deemed invalid, the remaining ones remain in force.

• No waiver of rights shall be effective unless formalized in writing.

Contact

Questions, rights violation reports or requests related to the Terms: gabriel.cohen@inpa.gov.br