Terms of Service
For Backseat Geologist
Last Updated: 2026-05-09
About these Terms
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Backseat Geologist mobile application ("the App"), provided by Blake Morgan, an individual sole trader at 2212 Oakawana Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30345, USA ("we," "our," "us").
By downloading, installing, or using the App you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the App.
Sections marked "EU/UK" set out additional rules and rights for consumers in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Where any provision of these Terms appears to limit a mandatory consumer protection in your country of residence, the statutory protection prevails.
1. What the App does
1.1 Service description
- Generates AI-powered audio narration of the geological formations along driving and exploration routes.
- Provides a curated gallery of pre-analyzed routes.
- Stores routes and preferences locally on your device.
- Plays narration in the background, hands-free, similar to a podcast or audiobook.
1.2 Educational, not professional
The geological content is for general education and entertainment. It is generated by AI from public geological databases and is not suitable for:
- Professional geological surveys or research citations
- Safety-critical decisions
- Commercial geological work
1.3 Audio-first design
The App is designed to operate in the background and play geology narration based on your location, like a podcast. It is intended for passive listening and does not require screen interaction during use. The driver of any vehicle remains responsible for safe operation at all times — see §5.
2. Who can use the App
The App is intended for users aged 16 and older. By using the App you confirm you are at least 16 years old. The "kids" audience setting tailors the narration style for an adult listener sharing content with younger riders; the App itself is not designed for use by users under 16.
3. No account required
You do not need to create an account to use the App. Your routes, preferences, and downloaded audio live on your device. See the Privacy Policy for what information leaves your device when you use specific features.
4. Subscriptions
4.1 Tiers
- Free — basic features with monthly usage limits.
- Premium — higher limits and additional features.
- Max — the highest limits available.
4.2 Billing
- All purchases are processed by Apple (on iOS) through your Apple ID, or by Google (on Android) through your Google account.
- Prices shown in the App include all applicable taxes. Apple and Google each handle regional VAT, GST, and sales tax and show you the all-in price before purchase.
- Subscriptions auto-renew at the chosen interval unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period (per Apple's and Google Play's standard subscription terms).
- Cancel at any time:
- iOS: Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions.
- Android: Google Play Store → Profile → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions.
Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period; you keep access until then. - Refunds are handled by the relevant store: Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com, or Google Play at play.google.com/store/account/subscriptions, in accordance with their respective refund policies.
4.3 Right of withdrawal — EU/UK
If you are a consumer resident in the EU, EEA, or UK, you have a statutory right to withdraw from a distance contract within 14 days of purchase under the Consumer Rights Directive (EU) 2011/83 and equivalent UK and Swiss legislation.
Because the App is digital content delivered immediately, this right is lost as soon as we begin performing the contract — that is, as soon as you start using subscription features. Before your first paid purchase, the App asks you to:
- expressly consent to immediate performance of the contract; and
- acknowledge that you lose the right of withdrawal once performance begins (CRD Art. 16(m)).
If you do not provide that acknowledgement, the App will not start the subscription. If you wish to exercise the right of withdrawal where it has not been lost, contact support@backseatgeologist.com within 14 days. The store-side refund process (Apple or Google Play) is generally faster.
4.4 Usage limits
Each tier has monthly usage caps that are enforced on your device. When you exceed a limit, certain features are restricted until the next monthly reset (which occurs on your subscription anniversary).
5. Your responsibilities
5.1 Safe vehicle operation
- The driver of any vehicle is responsible for safe operation at all times.
- Set up routes before driving.
- Audio narration plays automatically — do not interact with the screen while driving.
- Pull over safely before changing settings or selecting routes mid-drive.
5.2 Outdoor safety
- Do not rely on the App as your only source of safety information when hiking or exploring outdoors.
- Carry appropriate safety equipment and clothing for the terrain and weather.
- Verify weather and trail conditions independently.
- Tell someone your route before going to a remote area.
5.3 Respect for sites and others
- Follow Leave No Trace principles.
- Respect private property and posted restrictions.
- Observe local regulations and permit requirements.
- Do not damage geological formations or disturb wildlife.
5.4 Device readiness
- Maintain adequate device battery for outdoor use.
- Enable location services for the core functionality to work.
- Download content before visiting areas with poor connectivity.
6. Geological information disclaimers
6.1 Accuracy
- Geological data is sourced from public databases (Macrostrat) and may be outdated, incomplete, or inaccurate.
- Local conditions may differ from described formations.
- For any decision that matters, verify with authoritative sources.
6.2 AI-generated content
- Geological narration is generated by large language models (Google Gemini). LLM outputs can contain errors, simplifications, or invented details.
- Content is intentionally adapted for general audiences and is not a substitute for professional geological reference material.
7. Location and navigation disclaimers
- GPS accuracy varies with device, weather, and terrain.
- Location services may be degraded in remote areas.
- The App's navigation is provided for convenience; it is not a primary navigation system. Do not rely on it as your sole means of finding your way in remote terrain.
- Carry backup maps and navigation tools for outdoor activities.
8. Intellectual property
8.1 Our content
- The App's interface, design, and software are owned by Blake Morgan.
- Audio narration is generated using AI from licensed and public geological data.
- Voice synthesis is provided under license from Microsoft (Azure), Google, and Cloudflare.
8.2 Your routes
- Routes you create remain your intellectual property.
- The App processes them locally on your device for geological analysis and audio generation.
- We do not upload your routes to our servers. (The gallery is a separate catalog of routes we provide for download; users do not create or publish gallery routes.)
9. Service availability
- Some features require an internet connection — voice generation and geology lookups in particular.
- Downloaded audio is available offline.
- The service may occasionally be interrupted for maintenance or due to upstream provider issues. We aim to minimize disruption but do not guarantee uptime.
10. Disclaimers and limitation of liability
10.1 General
Except as set out in §10.4, the App is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind. We disclaim all implied warranties, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement, to the maximum extent permitted by law.
10.2 Geological information
We make no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or safety of geological information. You assume all risks associated with geological exploration based on the App's content.
10.3 Outdoor activities
We are not liable for injuries, accidents, or other incidents that occur while using the App or while visiting locations described by it, except to the extent such liability cannot lawfully be excluded.
10.4 Technical issues
Subject to §10.5, we are not liable for:
- Device malfunctions affecting App performance
- Network connectivity issues
- Third-party service interruptions
- Data loss caused by device issues
10.5 Statutory protections — EU/UK
Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes:
- Liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence;
- Liability for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
- Liability for gross negligence or intentional misconduct;
- The conformity warranties applicable to digital content and digital services under Directive (EU) 2019/770 and equivalent UK and Swiss legislation; or
- Any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under the law of your country of residence.
If you are a consumer in the EU, EEA, UK, or Switzerland, your statutory rights are unaffected by these Terms.
11. Indemnification
If you misuse the App in a way that causes us loss — for example by using it for an unlawful purpose, by breaching §5 in a way that harms a third party, or by attempting to abuse our backend (excessive automated requests, attempts to bypass subscription limits) — you agree to defend and hold us harmless against claims arising from that misuse.
EU/UK: If you are a consumer in the EU, EEA, UK, or Switzerland, this indemnification applies only to losses caused by your willful or grossly negligent breach of these Terms. It does not apply to ordinary use of the App.
12. Termination
12.1 By you
- Uninstall the App at any time. Local data is removed with the App.
- Cancel subscriptions through iOS Settings or the Google Play Store as described in §4.2.
12.2 By us
We may suspend or terminate access if you breach these Terms in a way that creates risk for the App or other users — including using the App for dangerous or unlawful activities, or attempting technical abuse of our backend.
13. Governing law and disputes
13.1 Default rule
These Terms are governed by the law of the State of Georgia, USA. Subject to §13.2, disputes arising from these Terms will be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in Georgia, and you waive participation in any class action.
13.2 EU/UK consumers
If you are a consumer resident in the EU, EEA, UK, or Switzerland:
- The choice of Georgia law in §13.1 does not deprive you of the protections of the mandatory consumer law of your country of residence (Rome I Regulation Article 6).
- You may bring a dispute against us in the courts of your country of residence (Brussels I bis Regulation Articles 17–18).
- The arbitration clause and class-action waiver in §13.1 do not apply to you.
- The European Commission provides an Online Dispute Resolution platform at https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr. We are not currently committed to using it but list it in the interest of transparency. We prefer to resolve disputes directly first by email.
14. Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms when our service or applicable law changes. The "Last Updated" date at the top will reflect when changes took effect. Material changes will be flagged in the App on first launch after the change. Continued use of the App after that point constitutes acceptance.
EU/UK: Material changes that affect your rights as a consumer will be notified to you in advance through an in-app message. You may decline by canceling your subscription and uninstalling the App without penalty before the changes take effect.
15. Other
- Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held unenforceable, the rest remain in effect.
- No waiver. A failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of the right to enforce it later.
- Entire agreement. These Terms and the Privacy Policy are the entire agreement between you and us regarding the App.
- App store terms. Apple's standard App Store terms apply to your use of the App if installed via the App Store; Google Play's standard terms apply if installed via the Google Play Store. Where the relevant store's terms conflict with ours on a matter the store regulates (e.g., subscription billing mechanics, refunds), the store's terms control on that point.
Important safety reminder: The App is an educational and entertainment tool, not a substitute for safety planning, equipment, or judgment. Always prioritize safety over geological exploration.