Terms of Use

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using the Hydrogen Centres of Educational Vocation (H2CoVE) website (the "Website" or "Platform"), you agree to comply with these Terms of Use and all applicable European laws and directives, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU 2016/679), e-Commerce Directive (2000/31/EC), and Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU). If you do not agree to these terms, please discontinue your use of the Website.

2. Description of the Service

The H2CoVE Website provides educational resources, vocational training, and a community platform aimed at promoting skills development in the hydrogen economy. The website facilitates interactions between educational institutions, businesses, and individuals to enhance vocational training in emerging hydrogen technologies.

• Project Leadership: The H2CoVE project is led by Vestland Fylkeskommune, Norway and is responsible for the overall direction and coordination of the project​.

• Website Hosting: The H2CoVE Website is hosted by FH Kufstein Tirol - University of Applied Sciences, Austria provides the technical infrastructure for the platform, ensuring its availability and security​.

3. Eligibility

The Website is intended for use by individuals aged 18 or older. If you are under 18, you may use the Website only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. By accessing the Website, you represent that you meet this eligibility requirement.

• Legal Compliance: In accordance with data protection regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), individuals under the age of 16 cannot legally provide consent for the processing of their personal data without parental or guardian consent. While the GDPR allows member states to set this age limit at 13, H2CoVE has chosen to establish a minimum age of 18. This approach ensures compliance across various jurisdictions and minimizes legal risks.

• Protection of Minors: The safety of younger users is a top priority. The decision to limit access to individuals 18 and older helps protect minors from potential exposure to inappropriate content and online exploitation. By requiring parental consent for users under 18, we empower parents and guardians to supervise their children's online activities, fostering a safer environment.

• User Agreement: By stipulating this age requirement, we ensure that all users can provide informed consent to the Terms of Use. Individuals under 18 may not have the legal capacity to enter into contracts, which is why we emphasize this requirement. This policy also minimizes legal complications and reinforces the accountability of users, ensuring that H2CoVE takes its obligations seriously and prioritizes user safety.

By accessing the Website, you acknowledge that you meet this eligibility requirement and agree to the terms outlined in this section.

4. User Conduct

As a user of our Website, you agree to adhere to the following guidelines to ensure a respectful and safe environment for all users:

• Accurate Information: You agree to provide accurate and up-to-date information when signing up for our newsletter, registering for events, or submitting contact information. This includes:

  • Ensuring that your name, email address, and any other required details are correct and reflect your current information.
  • Informing us promptly of any changes to your contact information to maintain effective communication.

• Lawful Use: You must use the Website solely for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms of Use. This includes:

  • Complying with all applicable laws, regulations, and third-party rights when engaging with our content and services.
  • Not using the Website to promote any illegal activities, including but not limited to fraud, hacking, or distribution of illegal substances.

• Respectful Interaction: While the Website does not allow users to post content directly, we encourage respectful communication through our newsletter and event registration. This means you should:

  • Refrain from submitting any information that is illegal, defamatory, or offensive.
  • Avoid language or behaviour that could be considered abusive, threatening, or harassing towards others.

• Protection of Website Integrity: You must take care not to engage in any actions that could disrupt the normal functioning of the Website. This includes:

  • Not attempting to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Website or its related systems.
  • Avoiding any attempts to hack, overload, or interfere with the Website’s security features, which could negatively impact the experience of other users.

• Reporting Violations: If you encounter any content or behaviour on the Website that you believe violates these User Conduct guidelines, we encourage you to report it to us. We take all reports seriously and will investigate any claims of misconduct.

By following these guidelines, you help create a positive and productive environment for all users of the H2CoVE Website.

5. Intellectual Property Rights

All content and materials available on the Website, including text, images, videos, and educational resources, are the intellectual property of H2CoVE, its partners, or contributors. You may use the content solely for personal or educational purposes. Unauthorized commercial use, copying, or redistribution of any content is prohibited without prior written consent.

6. Privacy Policy and GDPR Compliance

H2CoVE is committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Website collects and processes personal information in compliance with GDPR and other relevant data protection laws. For more information on how we handle your personal data, please review our Privacy Policy.

• Anonymised Data Collection: To further safeguard your data privacy while you navigate our website, we collect anonymised data, including your IP address and browser information. The last two octets of your IP address (for IPv4) or blocks (for IPv6) are anonymised automatically before being stored. This ensures that your identity cannot be linked to your IP address. This data is processed in a manner that prevents the identification of individual users, enabling us to understand website usage patterns and enhance our services. The anonymisation process allows us to monitor the website's performance without compromising your privacy.

• Data Collection: We collect personal data such as name, email address, and usage data for the purposes of providing our services and improving the Website.

• User Rights: As a user, you have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data. You may also request that we restrict the processing of your data or transfer it to another party.

7. No Cookies Used

The H2CoVE website does not use cookies. We do not track individual visits or how frequently any one person accesses the site. Instead, we only track the overall number of visits to the website. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the limited use of cookies as outlined in our Cookies Policy.

8. Modification of Terms

H2CoVE reserves the right to modify these Terms of Use at any time. Any changes will be communicated to users via the Website or email, and your continued use of the Website constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

9. Third-Party Links

The Website may contain links to third-party websites. H2CoVE is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of these third-party websites, and you access them at your own risk.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Website is provided on an "as-is" and "as-available" basis. H2CoVE makes no warranties or representations regarding the availability, accuracy, or completeness of the Website's content. To the fullest extent permitted by law, H2CoVE disclaims all warranties, express or implied.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the extent allowed by law, H2CoVE, Vestland Fylkeskommune, and FH Kufstein Tirol shall not be liable for any damages, including but not limited to loss of data, revenue, or profits arising out of the use or inability to use the Website.

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms of Use are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Norway and Austria, where the project leadership and hosting are based. Any legal disputes arising from these Terms of Use will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Norway.

13. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about this Cookies Policy, or if you wish to exercise your GDPR rights, please contact:

Fachhochschule Kufstein Tirol Bildungs GmbH
Christian Huber [he/him] Andreas Hofer-Strasse 7, 6330 Kufstein, Austria
Email: christian.huber@fh-kufstein.ac.at
Phone: +43 5372 71819 136

Furthermore, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if you believe that your data protection rights have been violated.