Terms of Use#
Last Updated: 18 June 2026
MapX is a platform developed and maintained by the GRID-Geneva unit of the University of Geneva (hereinafter UNIGE/GRID) to support environmental decision-making by transforming data into actionable information. Throughout this document, “we,” “our,” or “us” refers to UNIGE/GRID.
By accessing and using MapX, you agree to comply with these Terms of Use. If you do not agree to these terms, please discontinue your use of MapX.
General Information#
MapX is a product of the University of Geneva (UNIGE) acting within the framework of the GRID-Geneva Partnership agreement between the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the University of Geneva. The platform is operated from Switzerland and adheres to applicable international and local laws, including those set by the United Nations.
Throughout this document, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the University of Geneva will be collectively referred to as the “GRID-Geneva partners”.
User Responsibilities#
Acceptable Use#
Users agree to:
Use MapX solely for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms of Use.
Refrain from uploading, sharing, or transmitting any content that is defamatory, obscene, illegal, or infringes on intellectual property rights.
Avoid actions that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair MapX or interfere with another user’s experience.
Refrain from uploading personal data, sensitive personal data, confidential information, or restricted data unless they have a valid legal basis, all necessary rights and permissions, and have configured appropriate access restrictions in MapX.
Users are responsible for ensuring that any personal data they upload, publish, or share through MapX complies with applicable data-protection laws, including Swiss data-protection law and, where applicable, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), as well as the relevant dataset licence or access conditions.
Intellectual Property#
MapX Ownership#
Intellectual property rights in the MapX platform are owned by UNIGE/GRID and/or its licensors, unless otherwise stated. The MapX software is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later, which grants users the rights to use, copy, modify, and redistribute the software under the terms of that license. Logos, trademarks, branding elements, third-party components, datasets, documentation, and other content may be subject to separate rights or licences where indicated.
Nothing in these Terms of Use is intended to limit the rights granted under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later with respect to the MapX software. In the event of any inconsistency between these Terms of Use and the GNU General Public License version 3 or later, the GNU General Public License shall govern with respect to the MapX software. These Terms of Use govern access to and use of the MapX platform and hosted services, but do not impose additional restrictions on rights granted under the GPL.
Data Ownership and Access#
Data uploaded to a workspace in MapX remains owned by the user who uploaded it or by the relevant rights holder. By uploading data, users represent that they have the necessary rights, permissions, or licences to upload, use, share, and publish such data through MapX.
By default, all publishers and administrators within the same workspace have the ability to use, edit, and share data uploaded to that workspace. This collaborative model ensures seamless interaction and updates within the workspace. For users who wish to retain exclusive control over their data, MapX provides options in the interface to restrict access and editing rights. Users are encouraged to configure these settings as needed to align with their preferences and data-sharing requirements.
Users who publish their data publicly on MapX agree that all MapX users can view, reuse, create new content from, and export their public data, subject to the permissions of the applicable licence. By making data publicly accessible, users consent to its broader use within the MapX ecosystem while retaining ownership of the original dataset or without prejudice to the rights of the relevant rights holder.
Publishing data publicly on MapX does not, by itself, change the applicable licence. Public reuse remains subject to the licence and access conditions specified in the dataset metadata. Users are responsible for ensuring that any data they make public may lawfully be published, including under applicable data-protection, confidentiality, security, and licensing rules.
Licensing of Data#
Data available on MapX may be subject to a variety of licensing terms, covering both public and private datasets. Most datasets on MapX are open data and are provided under licences such as Creative Commons or other open data licences. However, some datasets may have restricted access or proprietary licences. Users are required to comply with the specific licensing terms associated with each dataset. Licensing details, including access restrictions and usage permissions, are clearly stated in the metadata for each dataset. Users are encouraged to review and adhere to these terms before using the data.
Attribution of Data#
When using, sharing, printing, downloading, or extracting data or maps from the MapX platform, users are responsible for ensuring that they provide appropriate attribution in accordance with the licensing terms of the datasets and services used.
This includes, but is not limited to, datasets and services provided by GEBCO, Mapterhorn, MapTiler, OpenStreetMap, the United Nations, and any user-integrated content.
General guidelines:
For publicly available datasets, users must give credit to the original data providers as specified in the applicable licensing terms.
For user-generated content, attribution should acknowledge the original creator or publisher as required by the dataset’s licence or terms of use.
If data or maps are printed, downloaded, exported, or extracted from MapX, users must ensure that the attribution remains visible and intact, including any information required by the relevant dataset or service licence.
Where attribution requirements conflict or are unclear, users must follow the most restrictive applicable attribution requirement or refrain from reuse until the applicable licence terms are clarified.
Base map attribution: Maps printed or exported from MapX must retain the attribution required by the data and service providers used in the active base map. Depending on the selected base map and visible layers, this may include attribution to GEBCO, Mapterhorn, MapTiler, OpenStreetMap, the United Nations, or other providers.
GEBCO attribution: Maps using GEBCO bathymetry or GEBCO-derived products must acknowledge GEBCO in accordance with the GEBCO terms of use . Users must not imply that GEBCO, the IHO, or the IOC endorses MapX or any map produced from MapX.
Mapterhorn attribution: Maps using Mapterhorn terrain tiles must include the attribution required by Mapterhorn. For attribution details, please refer to Mapterhorn Attribution .
MapTiler attribution: Maps using MapTiler base maps, including the MapTiler Satellite layer, must retain the attribution required by MapTiler and its data providers. Unless otherwise specified by the applicable MapTiler licence or service terms, maps using MapTiler layers must include attribution to MapTiler and, where applicable, OpenStreetMap contributors. For MapTiler attribution and data-source details, please refer to MapTiler map data licenses .
United Nations attribution: The international and administrative boundaries, along with the first subnational level and country names displayed in the MapX base map, are sourced from the United Nations Geospatial Data. Maps printed or exported from MapX that display these boundaries or country names must provide proper attribution to the United Nations. In addition, the official United Nations disclaimer must accompany the maps. Please refer to the next section for details.
OpenStreetMap attribution: Maps printed or exported from MapX must provide proper attribution to OpenStreetMap, as most of the data displayed in the MapX base map are provided by OpenStreetMap. For detailed attribution guidelines, please refer to the OpenStreetMap Attribution Guidelines .
United Nations Geospatial Data#
The international and administrative boundaries, along with the first subnational level and country names displayed in the MapX base map, are sourced from the United Nations Geospatial Data (scale: 1:1 million, version: 2020). These layers have been styled in accordance with the “Guidance for the Publication of Maps” issued by the United Nations in November 2020.
The designations employed and the presentation of material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations or the GRID-Geneva partners concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties. A dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan.
Final boundary between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan has not yet been determined.
Final status of the Abyei area is not yet determined.
A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).
Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability#
The content of MapX is provided by a range of data suppliers and does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the GRID-Geneva partners. Materials on MapX are offered “as is”, and the GRID-Geneva partners make no warranties or representations regarding their content, accuracy, completeness, reliability, or legality. MapX may also contain links to third-party websites, for which the GRID-Geneva partners assume no responsibility and do not necessarily endorse any content.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the GRID-Geneva partners are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of MapX. This includes damages resulting from reliance on user-uploaded content or external links, for which the GRID-Geneva partners assume no responsibility or liability.
Third-Party Integration and Software Development Kit Usage#
Software Development Kit Embedding and Compliance#
The MapX Software Development Kit (SDK) is a comprehensive toolset that enables developers to integrate the MapX single page application into web projects, providing access to comprehensive geospatial environmental data.
Developers and organizations integrating MapX through the SDK must comply with the following requirements:
Mandatory Terms of Use Disclosure#
When embedding MapX via the SDK, the host website must either:
Explicitly enable the MapX Privacy Policy and Terms of Use during the initialization of the MapX instance, ensuring users are informed of these terms before interaction, or
Provide a clear and direct link to the full MapX Terms of Use and Privacy Policy on the host website, positioned prominently and accessible before users interact with the embedded MapX instance.
Responsibility Disclaimer#
UNIGE/GRID assumes no responsibility for MapX integrations on domains other than those directly managed by UNIGE/GRID, including but not limited to https://app.mapx.org .
The host website is solely responsible for ensuring compliance with these Terms of Use and maintaining appropriate user consent mechanisms where required.
Host websites must ensure that the embedding of MapX does not violate the Acceptable Use policy outlined in these Terms of Use.
Any misuse or inappropriate integration may result in suspension or revocation of access to MapX-hosted services, APIs, credentials, or other resources controlled by UNIGE/GRID, without limiting any rights users may have under applicable open-source licences.
Data Protection Responsibilities for SDK Integrations#
Where an SDK integration involves the processing of personal data, the host website is responsible for determining its role and obligations under applicable data-protection law, including whether a data-processing agreement, joint-controller arrangement, or other legal instrument is required.
The host website is responsible for providing all privacy notices, consent mechanisms, legal bases, and user-rights mechanisms required for its own processing activities and for any personal data processed through its integration of MapX.
Limitation of Liability for Third-Party Integrations#
In addition to the existing Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability section, the following provisions specifically apply to SDK integrations:
UNIGE/GRID is not liable for any damages, losses, or consequences arising from the integration, configuration, operation, or use of MapX on third-party websites.
The host website assumes full responsibility for the proper implementation, configuration, security, and lawful operation of its MapX integration.
UNIGE/GRID reserves the right to request immediate removal of any MapX integration that does not meet the specified compliance requirements.
Platform Availability#
MapX is provided “as is”, and while UNIGE/GRID strives to ensure uninterrupted access and accuracy of content, UNIGE/GRID does not guarantee error-free operation or the completeness of information.
Privacy Policy#
Personal data is processed in accordance with the MapX Privacy Policy, which explains the categories of personal data processed, purposes and legal bases of processing, retention periods, recipients, international transfers, user rights, and contact points for data-protection requests.
MapX is operated in accordance with applicable Swiss data-protection law, including the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), and, where applicable, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Please review our Privacy Policy for detailed information on data collection, usage, and user rights.
Modifications to the Terms#
UNIGE/GRID reserves the right to update or modify these Terms of Use at any time. Changes will be communicated via the MapX platform or email. Continued use of MapX following any updates constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.
Termination of Access#
UNIGE/GRID may suspend or terminate user access to MapX at its discretion, without notice, for violations of these Terms of Use or other policies. Upon termination, any content uploaded by the user may be anonymized, retained, removed, or otherwise processed to maintain platform functionality, subject to applicable law, applicable licences, archival requirements, and technical constraints.
Public content or data that has already been published or reused by other users may remain available in accordance with the applicable licence and metadata, unless removal is required by law or by a valid rights-holder request.
Governing Law and Dispute Resolution#
These Terms of Use are governed by Swiss law, subject to any privileges, immunities, rules, or legal requirements applicable to the United Nations, UNEP, or other GRID-Geneva partners. Unless otherwise required by applicable privileges, immunities, mandatory legal provisions, or a separate written agreement, disputes arising from these Terms of Use shall be submitted to the competent courts of Geneva, Switzerland.
Nothing in these Terms of Use shall be deemed or interpreted as a waiver, express or implied, of any privileges or immunities enjoyed by the United Nations, UNEP, or any other GRID-Geneva partner under international law, treaty, convention, headquarters agreement, or applicable national law.
Contact Information#
For questions or concerns about these Terms of Use, please contact us:
Physical address
Postal mail
By using MapX, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms of Use.