Tourguide Terms of Service

Last updated: September 30, 2026

1. Agreement to these Terms

These Terms of Service (these “Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Tourguide applications, websites, and related services (collectively, the “Service”) offered by Robert Michels (“we,” “us,” or “Operator”).

By accessing or using the Service—including by creating an account, continuing as a guest, running a tour, purchasing a subscription, or submitting content—you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

The Service is offered on Android (primary), web (beta), and may be offered on other platforms from time to time. Platform-specific terms from app stores or payment providers may also apply.

2. Who operates Tourguide

Tourguide is operated by Robert Michels, an individual business located in British Columbia, Canada. References to “Tourguide” in these Terms mean the Service and Operator unless the context requires otherwise.

3. Eligibility

You may use the Service only if you are at least 18 years old, can form a binding contract with Operator under applicable law, and are not barred from using the Service.

The Service is not directed at minors. You may not use the Service if you are under 18. Operator does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe someone under 18 has provided information or is using the Service, contact us using the details in Section 25.

4. Accounts and sign-in

4.1 Sign-in methods

The Service supports Google Sign-In and anonymous guest access through Firebase Authentication. We do not offer sign-in through Facebook, Apple, or other social networks unless we explicitly add them and update these Terms.

When you use Google Sign-In, Google’s terms and privacy policies apply to your use of Google’s services. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your Google account.

4.2 Guest accounts

Guest access uses an anonymous Firebase account. On cold start, the app may sign you in automatically as a guest so you can explore the Service. You may optionally provide name, email, or company information on the guest sign-in flow; if you do, we may store that information in our guests collection as described in our Privacy Policy.

Guest accounts have limited functionality (for example, some community actions may require a Google account). Guest data may be lost if you clear app data, uninstall the app, or if we cannot link your session to a persistent account.

4.3 Account accuracy and security

You agree to provide accurate information where requested and to keep account credentials confidential. You are responsible for activity under your account except where caused by Operator’s failure to use reasonable security measures.

4.4 Upgrading from guest

You may link or upgrade from guest to Google Sign-In where the app supports it. After upgrade, certain data may be associated with your Google-authenticated account subject to our Privacy Policy and technical limitations.

5. The Service

Tourguide helps users discover, create, share, and run location-based guided tours. Features may include, without limitation:

Features vary by platform, app version, connectivity, account type, and subscription status. We may add, change, suspend, or remove features at any time, including beta or experimental features, without liability to you.

6. Subscriptions and purchases

Some features may require payment on supported platforms. As of the “Last updated” date above, in-app purchases and subscriptions are offered on the Android app through RevenueCat and Google Play billing. The web (beta) version of the Service does not offer in-app purchases or subscriptions through the browser. Prices, billing periods, free trials, and renewal terms are shown at purchase and may change for new purchases as permitted by law and store policies.

Except where required by applicable law or the app store’s policies, fees are non-refundable. You manage subscriptions through your app store account settings. We do not control store refund decisions.

If we grant complimentary or promotional access (including early-access premium), we may modify or end that access at any time.

7. Your content and community features

7.1 User-generated content

You may submit tours, waypoints, text, images, ratings, comments, reports, and other materials (“User Content”). You retain ownership of User Content you create, subject to the license below.

Where tour comments are enabled, you must be signed in with Google Sign-In (not an anonymous guest account) to post, edit, vote on, or report comments. Guest users may read comments where the app displays them.

7.2 License to Operator

By submitting User Content, you grant Operator a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, display, perform, distribute, and create derivative works of your User Content solely to operate, promote, improve, and secure the Service, enforce these Terms, and comply with law. This license continues for commercially reasonable backup and legal purposes after you remove content or close your account, except where deletion is required by law or our Privacy Policy.

7.3 Your responsibilities

You represent that you have all rights necessary to submit User Content and that your User Content does not violate these Terms, our Community Guidelines, or third-party rights. You are solely responsible for your User Content and the consequences of publishing tours (including public visibility and location data you attach to waypoints).

7.4 Moderation

We may review, remove, restrict visibility of, or refuse any User Content or account, with or without notice, especially for reports, safety, intellectual property, spam, or legal compliance. We are not obligated to monitor all User Content.

8. Community Guidelines

Your use of community features must comply with our Community Guidelines, which are incorporated into these Terms by reference. In case of conflict, these Terms control for legal matters; the Guidelines describe community expectations in more detail.

9. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

10. AI-assisted features

The Service may include AI chat and tour-related assistance using Google Gemini via Firebase AI. AI output may be inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, offensive, or unsuitable for navigation or safety decisions. AI responses are not professional advice (legal, medical, travel, or otherwise).

Usage may be limited by daily quotas that differ for guest, signed-in, and premium users, as configured through Firebase Remote Config or similar controls. Grounding with maps, search, or location may still produce errors.

Do not rely on AI output as a substitute for your own judgment, official sources, or safe navigation practices. You are responsible for verifying information before acting on it, especially outdoors or in unfamiliar areas.

11. Maps, navigation, and location

The Service uses Google Maps, Google Places, and related location technologies. Route and direction information may be obtained through our Cloud Functions proxy to mapping providers. Map data, routing, and place information are provided by third parties and may be wrong, incomplete, or unavailable.

Tour running, proximity alerts, and friend-session location sharing depend on device sensors, permissions, and network connectivity. Location is collected only while you are actively using the app in the foreground (when you grant device location permission). The Service does not request or use background location when the app is not in active use. Navigation and tour guidance are informational only and do not replace your attention to traffic, terrain, weather, private property rules, and local laws.

Text-to-speech playback is automated and may mispronounce names or skip content. Always confirm routes visually and obey real-world conditions.

12. Offline use

On supported mobile devices, you may download tours and cached direction data for offline use. Offline packages may become stale, omit updates, fail to sync, or not include all online features. Actions you take offline (such as ratings or bookmarks) may queue for later sync via our offline pending-actions mechanism; sync is not guaranteed if the server rejects the action or your session ends.

13. Friend tour sessions and friends

Friend tour sessions allow participants to share live location and tour progress during an active session. Starting, joining, or inviting others to a friend session requires a Google Sign-In account (anonymous guest accounts cannot use friend sessions). You build your friends list in Profile by sending and accepting friend requests; only mutual friends you select may be invited to a session. You may also share an invite link where the app provides that option.

By joining a session, you consent to sharing your location with other participants for the session duration. You are responsible for whom you invite and for complying with privacy laws when sharing others’ data.

Friend relationships, requests, and session data are stored in our backend (including Firestore collections such as friends-related data and tour_sessions) and may be visible to session members or as described in our Privacy Policy. Operator is not responsible for misuse of location data by other participants.

14. Intellectual property

The Service, including software, design, trademarks, and content we provide (excluding User Content), is owned by Operator or licensors and protected by intellectual property laws. These Terms do not grant you any right to use our branding except as necessary to use the Service in compliance with these Terms.

If you believe content on the Service infringes your copyright, contact us with sufficient detail for us to evaluate the claim.

15. Third-party services

The Service integrates third-party services including Google (Authentication, Maps, Places, Firebase, Gemini AI), RevenueCat, and app store platforms. Your use of those services is subject to their terms and policies. Operator is not responsible for third-party services outside our reasonable control.

16. Privacy

Our collection and use of personal information is described in the Privacy Policy. Firebase and related Google Cloud processors handle authentication, database, storage, analytics, crash reporting, remote configuration, and AI features as described there.

17. Disclaimers

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE SERVICE AND ALL CONTENT (INCLUDING USER CONTENT, AI OUTPUT, MAPS, ROUTES, OFFLINE DATA, AND TOUR MATERIALS) ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE,” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY, AND QUIET ENJOYMENT.

Operator does not warrant that tours are safe, accurate, legally permitted to follow, or suitable for your fitness level; that the Service will be uninterrupted or error-free; or that defects will be corrected.

Some jurisdictions do not allow exclusion of certain warranties; in those jurisdictions, the above exclusions apply to the fullest extent permitted, and you may have statutory rights that cannot be waived.

18. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, OPERATOR AND ITS DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AND AFFILIATES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, OPERATOR’S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SERVICE OR THESE TERMS IN ANY TWELVE (12) MONTH PERIOD WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF: (A) THE AMOUNTS YOU PAID TO OPERATOR FOR THE SERVICE IN THAT PERIOD (EXCLUDING AMOUNTS PAID TO APP STORES OR PROCESSORS THAT OPERATOR DOES NOT RETAIN), OR (B) ONE HUNDRED CANADIAN DOLLARS (CAD $100).

The limitations in this section apply to all theories of liability (contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise) and survive termination. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law (including certain consumer protection or personal injury laws where liability for gross negligence or willful misconduct cannot be excluded).

19. Indemnification

You will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Operator from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your User Content; (b) your use of the Service; (c) your violation of these Terms or applicable law; or (d) your interaction with other users (including friend sessions and live location sharing).

20. Suspension and termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time, with or without notice, for conduct we believe violates these Terms, poses risk, or is otherwise harmful. You may stop using the Service at any time.

Sections that by nature should survive (including licenses granted for enforcement, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnity, governing law, and dispute resolution) survive termination.

21. Changes to these Terms

We may modify these Terms from time to time. We will post the updated Terms with a revised “Last updated” date. Material changes may also be communicated in-app or by other reasonable means where practicable. Continued use after the effective date of changes constitutes acceptance unless applicable law requires a different process.

22. Governing law

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to them or the Service are governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict-of-law rules that would apply another jurisdiction’s laws.

23. Dispute resolution

23.1 Informal resolution

Before starting formal proceedings, you agree to contact us at contact@tourguide.rmichels.com and attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute informally for at least thirty (30) days.

23.2 Courts

Subject to Section 23.3, you and Operator agree that the courts located in British Columbia, Canada, will have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes that are not subject to arbitration or that must be brought in court under applicable law. You waive any objection to venue in those courts unless prohibited by mandatory consumer protection rules in your jurisdiction.

23.3 Optional arbitration (Operator election)

At Operator’s sole election, any dispute that cannot be resolved informally may be referred to binding arbitration seated in Surrey or Vancouver, British Columbia, before a single arbitrator, conducted in English under the Arbitration Act (British Columbia) and applicable BC arbitration rules for domestic arbitration. The arbitrator may award relief available in court, subject to these Terms. Each party will bear its own legal costs unless the arbitrator or applicable law requires otherwise.

Either party may seek interim injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to protect intellectual property, confidentiality, or safety pending arbitration or final resolution.

23.4 Class actions

To the extent permitted by law, disputes must be brought only on an individual basis and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class, collective, or representative proceeding.

24. General

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and incorporated Community Guidelines, are the entire agreement between you and Operator regarding the Service. If any provision is unenforceable, the remainder remains in effect. Our failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver. You may not assign these Terms without our consent; we may assign them in connection with a merger, sale, or reorganization. Notices to you may be provided in-app, by email if we have it, or by posting on our website.

25. Contact

Questions about these Terms:

contact@tourguide.rmichels.com

Operator is located in British Columbia, Canada. We do not publish a personal phone number or home address for general correspondence; please use the email above.