Terms of Service

1. Scope and provider (Geltungsbereich und Anbieter)

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern the use of the website ipctl.io and the ipctl API (collectively, the "Service"), operated by:

By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the Service.

These Terms apply to all users of the Service, including unregistered visitors, registered free-tier users, and paid API subscribers.

2. Service description

ipctl.io provides a network intelligence platform that aggregates publicly available Internet infrastructure data and makes it accessible through a web interface and a RESTful JSON API. The data includes, but is not limited to, BGP routing information, IP address allocations, RPKI validation results, geolocation data, IRR route objects, and threat intelligence from public sources.

We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information but cannot guarantee the completeness, correctness, or timeliness of the data. Network data changes constantly, and upstream data sources may contain errors. Our service provides the data "as is" (see Section 9).

3. Registration and user accounts

Certain features of the Service (API key generation, dashboard access) require registration. When registering, you must:

• Provide accurate and complete information.
• Maintain the confidentiality of your account credentials.
• Notify us promptly of any unauthorized use of your account.

You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account. You must be at least 16 years of age to create an account. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

4. Free tier and paid subscriptions

4.1 Free tier

The free tier provides limited API access subject to rate limits. Current limits are published on the pricing page. We reserve the right to reduce or restrict free-tier access at any time without prior notice.

4.2 Paid subscriptions

Paid subscriptions provide higher rate limits and additional features as described on our pricing page. Payment terms and pricing are displayed at the time of subscription.

Under German law (§ 312g(2) BGB), the right of withdrawal (Widerrufsrecht) does not apply to contracts for the supply of digital content that is not supplied on a tangible medium if the performance has begun with your prior express consent and your acknowledgment that you thereby lose your right of withdrawal.

For all other cases, you have a 14-day right of withdrawal (Widerrufsrecht) from the date of contract conclusion in accordance with §§ 355, 356 BGB. To exercise this right, send a clear declaration to hello [at] ipctl [dot] io.

4.3 Cancellation

You may cancel your paid subscription at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. No refunds are provided for partial billing periods, except as required by applicable law.

5. API usage and rate limits

API keys are personal and non-transferable. You must not share, sell, or redistribute your API key. Each API key is bound to the account that created it.

Rate limits are enforced per API key (authenticated) or per IP address (unauthenticated). Exceeding rate limits results in HTTP 429 responses. Systematic attempts to circumvent rate limits (e.g., rotating IP addresses, creating multiple free accounts) are prohibited and may result in permanent suspension.

We reserve the right to throttle or block requests that negatively affect the performance or availability of the Service for other users.

6. Acceptable use

You agree not to use the Service to:

• Conduct or facilitate illegal activities, including but not limited to unauthorized access to computer systems, harassment, or stalking.
• Systematically scrape or bulk-download data in a manner that exceeds your rate limits or circumvents access controls.
• Redistribute or resell the data obtained from the Service in a manner that creates a competing service, without our prior written consent.
• Use the data to identify, locate, or target specific individuals for harassment, doxxing, or other harmful purposes.
• Interfere with the operation of the Service, including through denial of service attacks or exploitation of vulnerabilities.
• Submit false, misleading, or malicious IP abuse reports.

Violation of these terms may result in immediate account suspension or termination without prior notice, in accordance with § 314 BGB (termination for good cause).

7. Intellectual property

The website design, logos, and original content are protected by copyright (§§ 2, 87a UrhG). The underlying network data (BGP routes, RIR allocations, etc.) originates from public sources and is subject to the respective licenses of those sources.

You may use API responses for your own internal purposes or in your own applications. You must include appropriate attribution when displaying ipctl.io data publicly, in the form of a visible link to ipctl.io or a credit line such as "Data by ipctl.io".

Our database as a whole is protected as a database work under § 87a UrhG and Art. 7 of Directive 96/9/EC. Systematic extraction or re-utilization of a substantial part of the database contents is prohibited without our written consent.

8. Data protection

We process personal data in accordance with the GDPR (DSGVO) and the German TDDDG (formerly TTDSG). Details on what data we collect, how we process it, and your rights are described in our Privacy Policy.

9. Disclaimer and limitation of liability

9.1 Availability

We aim for high availability but do not guarantee uninterrupted access to the Service. Scheduled maintenance, infrastructure issues, or force majeure events may cause temporary downtime. Free-tier services are provided without any availability guarantee.

9.2 Data accuracy

The data provided through the Service is aggregated from third-party sources and is presented "as is" without warranty of any kind (Gewährleistungsausschluss, soweit gesetzlich zulässig). We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or fitness of the data for any particular purpose.

In particular, threat intelligence scores and geolocation data are probabilistic and should not be used as the sole basis for security-critical decisions, legal actions, or access control.

9.3 Limitation of liability (Haftungsbeschränkung)

Our liability is limited in accordance with German law:

• Unlimited liability applies for damages caused by intent (Vorsatz) or gross negligence (grobe Fahrlässigkeit), for damages resulting from injury to life, body, or health, and for mandatory liability under the Produkthaftungsgesetz (Product Liability Act).
• Limited liability for slight negligence: in cases of slight negligence (leichte Fahrlässigkeit), we are only liable for breach of essential contractual obligations (Kardinalpflichten). In such cases, liability is limited to the foreseeable, contract-typical damages. For free-tier users, this is limited to €0 (as no consideration is paid).
• No liability for indirect or consequential damages, lost profits, or data loss arising from the use of or inability to use the Service, except as mandated by the above provisions.

Statutory liability provisions (§§ 7, 8 TMG for telemedia providers) remain unaffected.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claims, damages, or costs (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the Service in violation of these Terms or applicable law.

11. Modifications to these Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be published on this page with an updated revision date. For registered users, material changes will be communicated via email at least 30 days before they take effect, in accordance with § 307 BGB.

Continued use of the Service after the effective date of changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree with the changes, you must stop using the Service and may delete your account.

12. Term and termination

These Terms remain in effect as long as you use the Service. Either party may terminate the contractual relationship at any time:

• You may terminate by deleting your account or ceasing to use the Service.
• We may terminate by providing 30 days' notice to your registered email address, or immediately for good cause (§ 314 BGB) such as a material breach of these Terms.

Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases. Sections 7 (Intellectual property), 9 (Disclaimer and limitation of liability), and 10 (Indemnification) survive termination.

13. Governing law and jurisdiction (Anwendbares Recht und Gerichtsstand)

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).

If you are a consumer (Verbraucher) within the meaning of § 13 BGB and have your habitual residence in the EU, you additionally benefit from any mandatory consumer protection provisions of the law of your country of residence. We are neither obligated nor willing to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board (Verbraucherschlichtungsstelle) in accordance with § 36 Verbraucherstreitbeilegungsgesetz (VSBG).

For business customers (Unternehmer), the exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from or in connection with these Terms is the courts of Trier, Germany.

14. Severability (Salvatorische Klausel)

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be replaced by a valid provision that achieves the economic purpose of the original provision as closely as possible, in accordance with § 306 BGB.