Skip to main content

Terms of Service

Last updated: April 5, 2026

1. Scope

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern the use of the platform "BenchLog" (the "Service") operated by:

Patrick Bihn
Blumenweg 5
27321 Thedinghausen
Germany
Email: [email protected]

By creating an account or using the Service, you agree to these Terms.

2. Description of Service

BenchLog provides a platform for documenting and managing experimental aircraft builds, including features such as:

  • Build tracking (sessions, notes)
  • Uploading and storing photos
  • Expense tracking
  • Project organisation
  • Inventory and parts management
  • Kit verification and check sessions
  • Smart home integrations (e.g. MQTT / Home Assistant)

The Service is intended solely as a documentation and organisational tool.

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service at any time.

3. User Accounts

To use certain features, you must create an account. You must be at least 18 years old to register.

You agree to:

  • Provide accurate and complete information
  • Keep your login credentials secure
  • Be responsible for all activity under your account

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

4. User Content

You retain ownership of any content you upload (e.g. text, images, financial data).

By uploading content, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide licence to store, process, and display your content solely for the purpose of operating the Service.

You are responsible for ensuring that your content does not violate any laws or infringe third-party rights.

We reserve the right to remove content that violates these Terms.

5. Prohibited Use

You agree not to:

  • Use the Service for unlawful purposes
  • Upload harmful, abusive, or misleading content
  • Attempt to gain unauthorised access to systems
  • Interfere with the operation or security of the Service

6. Image Uploads and Blog Content

Users may upload images and publish blog-style content as part of documenting their build process.

You must ensure that:

  • You have all necessary rights to the uploaded content
  • Any identifiable persons have given their explicit consent
  • No third-party rights are violated

We do not actively monitor all user content but reserve the right to remove content that violates these Terms.

7. Automated Image Processing (OCR / Parts Ingestion)

Uploaded images may be automatically processed using on-server technologies (e.g. Optical Character Recognition) to extract and identify component-related information.

This functionality is intended to support inventory management and improve the user experience.

  • Processing is performed on our own infrastructure
  • No external third-party AI services are used for this feature
  • Results may be incomplete or inaccurate

Users remain responsible for verifying all extracted or suggested data.

This processing does not constitute automated decision-making with legal or similarly significant effects.

8. Inventory Management, Kit Verification, and Integrations

The Service includes features for managing parts inventories, tracking stock levels across locations, and verifying kit contents against manufacturer packing lists.

Inventory data — including part numbers, quantities, stock conditions, and verification results — is stored within your account and is not shared with third parties.

The platform offers an optional MQTT integration that allows you to publish build progress data (e.g. total hours, section progress) to an external smart home system such as Home Assistant. This feature is disabled by default and requires you to provide your own MQTT broker credentials.

You acknowledge that:

  • Kit verification results are based on manufacturer packing list data and may not reflect actual shipment contents
  • Inventory quantities and verification statuses are for documentation purposes only and should be independently verified
  • You are solely responsible for the security and configuration of any external MQTT broker you connect to the Service
  • Data sent to external systems via MQTT is no longer under our control

9. Payments and Subscriptions

Some features are offered as paid subscriptions. Payments are processed via Stripe.

By subscribing, you agree to pay all applicable fees and authorise recurring billing for each billing period until you cancel.

You may cancel your subscription at any time via the account page. Access continues until the end of the current billing period. No partial refunds are issued for unused time, unless required by applicable law.

If a payment fails, we will notify you by email. Access may be restricted until the payment is resolved.

10. Right of Withdrawal

Under EU consumer law, you generally have a 14-day right of withdrawal from distance contracts for digital services.

However, by completing registration and initiating payment, you expressly request that the Service begins immediately. You acknowledge that by doing so you lose your right of withdrawal once the Service has commenced.

This acknowledgement is confirmed by the checkbox you accept during registration.

11. Availability

We strive to keep the Service available at all times but do not guarantee uninterrupted access.

Maintenance, updates, or external factors may result in temporary downtime.

12. Limitation of Liability

BenchLog is a general-purpose documentation and organisation tool. The Service does not provide any form of technical, engineering, or safety advice and is not a certified or regulated system. Users are solely responsible for their projects, decisions, and any actions taken based on the use of the Service.

We do not verify, validate, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content, including user-generated content.

To the extent permitted by law, we shall not be liable for:

  • Any decisions made based on the use of the Service
  • Data loss or corruption
  • Service interruptions
  • Incorrect or incomplete information
  • Any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability where it is legally required, in particular for:

  • Intentional misconduct
  • Gross negligence
  • Injury to life, body, or health

The Service is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind.

13. Data and Privacy

The processing of personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy.

You may export all your data at any time from within the Service. Upon account deletion, your personal data will be retained for up to 30 days before being permanently removed, unless a longer retention period is required by law.

14. Termination

You may delete your account at any time from the account page.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms. In the event we discontinue the Service entirely, we will provide at least 30 days' notice by email so you can export your data.

15. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you by email at least 30 days before material changes take effect.

If you do not object within that period, the updated Terms are deemed accepted. You always have the right to terminate your account before changes take effect.

16. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Germany.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, the remaining provisions remain unaffected.