Terms of Service

Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Auktiva, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our service. These terms apply to all users of the platform, whether using the hosted version or a self-hosted instance.

What is Auktiva

Auktiva is a free, open-source auction platform designed for fundraisers, charities, schools, churches, company events, and community organizations. The platform enables you to create and manage auctions, invite participants, and facilitate real-time bidding.

User Accounts

To use Auktiva, you must create an account with accurate information including your name, email address, and a secure password. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials and should not share your account with others.

You must be at least 18 years old or have parental consent to use Auktiva. Please keep your account information up to date to ensure you receive important notifications about your auctions.

Roles and Permissions

Auctions use a role-based permission system to control what each member can do. Auction owners are responsible for managing their members and resolving any disputes within their auctions.

Auction Participation

When participating in auctions, you agree to honor your winning bids and complete transactions offline with the item seller. You should provide accurate descriptions for any items you list and respect the auction end times and bidding rules set by the auction owner.

Each auction may have its own specific rules determined by the owner. Make sure to review any auction-specific guidelines before participating.

Acceptable Use

You agree to use Auktiva responsibly and legally. You must not use the service for illegal purposes, post fraudulent or misleading items, or engage in bid manipulation such as shill bidding.

Harassment, abuse, or threats toward other users are strictly prohibited. You must not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the system, use automated bots or scripts, or upload malicious content that could compromise the platform or other users.

No Payment Processing

Auktiva does not process payments, collect payment information, or facilitate financial transactions of any kind. Winning bidders and item sellers are solely responsible for arranging payment methods, completing the exchange of items, and resolving any disputes that arise.

Auktiva is not liable for any disputes, losses, or damages arising from offline transactions between users. We recommend discussing payment and pickup arrangements before the auction ends.

Content Ownership

You retain ownership of all content you upload to Auktiva, including item images and descriptions. By uploading content, you grant Auktiva a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display that content to auction participants for the purpose of operating the service.

You represent that you have the right to upload any content you submit and that it does not infringe on any third-party rights including copyrights, trademarks, or privacy rights.

Open Source License

Auktiva is open source software released under the MIT License. You may use, modify, and distribute the software according to the terms of that license. The complete source code is available on GitHub, and you can review our LICENSE file for complete details.

Self-Hosting

You may self-host Auktiva on your own infrastructure. When self-hosting, you are solely responsible for server security and maintenance, data backup and protection, compliance with applicable laws in your jurisdiction, and providing user support and dispute resolution for your users.

Cloud Hosting at auktiva.org

The hosted version at auktiva.org is provided free of charge and runs entirely on free-tier services under the project creator's personal accounts. We use Vercel for hosting, Turso for database storage, and Brevo for email delivery — all on their respective free tiers.

While we make every effort to keep the service running, please understand that free-tier services have limitations. There may be usage caps, occasional downtime, or service changes beyond our control. For mission-critical use cases or higher reliability requirements, we recommend self-hosting Auktiva on your own infrastructure.

Disclaimer of Warranties

Auktiva is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We do not guarantee that the service will be uninterrupted, secure, error-free, or meet your specific requirements. Use of the service is at your own risk.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Auktiva and its creators, contributors, and maintainers shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the service. This includes but is not limited to loss of profits, data, or goodwill, failed or disputed transactions, unauthorized access to your account, and service interruptions or errors.

Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms. You may delete your account at any time through your account settings. Upon termination, your access to the service will be revoked, but auction data you created may be retained for other participants.

Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time. When we make significant changes, we will post a notice on the platform and update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

Governing Law

These terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable laws. Any disputes shall be resolved through good-faith negotiation or, if necessary, through appropriate legal channels in the relevant jurisdiction.

Contact

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please reach out through our GitHub Issues or contact the project maintainer at tamaslorincz.com.