Terms of Use

Last updated October 14, 2026

These terms are the agreement between you and Here Before Us ("we", "us") for using herebefore.us (the "Service"). By using the Service you agree to them. If you don't agree, please don't use it.

1. Using the Service

You may use the Service for personal, non-commercial exploration of places and their history. You must be at least 13 years old to create an account, and old enough to agree to these terms where you live.

2. Your account

Keep your password safe; you're responsible for what happens under your account. Your username is public, so don't choose one that impersonates someone or is offensive. We may change or remove usernames that break these terms.

3. What you post

• You keep ownership of the stories, memories, paths, notes and ratings you add ("your content"). You give us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to host, display, adapt (for example, to fit the layout) and share your content as part of the Service, including on pages others can see and share. This licence ends when you delete your content or account, except for copies others have already shared or that we must keep by law.
• If you post someone else's memory, you must have their permission, and it must be in their words or a faithful summary of them. It is credited to them and shows that you collected it.
• Only post photos you took or have the right to share, and don't post photos that identify private people without their permission.
• Only post what's yours to share and true to the best of your knowledge. Give a source for dark or controversial claims about real people.
• Don't post anything defamatory, hateful, harassing, sexually explicit, or that invades someone's privacy, including private home addresses of living people or identifying details of private individuals.
• We may review, label as disputed, hide or remove content, and suspend accounts, to keep the Service accurate, safe and lawful.

4. Accuracy

History is messy. Places and stories come from Wikipedia, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap and contributors, and may be incomplete, out of date or wrong. Community content is not independently verified. Don't rely on the Service for anything important without checking other sources. Hauntings, legends and folklore are presented as stories, not facts.

5. Getting around safely

Directions, distances and times are estimates from open data and may be wrong or out of date: paths may be closed, private or unsafe. Use your own judgement, obey local laws and signs, stay off private property unless you have permission, and never use the Service while driving or in a way that distracts you from your surroundings. Be respectful at memorials, cemeteries, homes and places where people suffered.

6. Things you must not do

• Break the law, or help anyone else do so, through the Service.
• Spam, scrape or overload the Service, or try to get around its security or rate limits.
• Fake your location to collect stamps or game the leaderboards, or manipulate ratings.
• Use the Service to stalk, track or harass anyone.

7. Other people's content and services

Text and images from Wikipedia and Wikidata are available under their own licences (mainly CC BY-SA); map data is © OpenStreetMap contributors under the ODbL; directions come from Valhalla run by FOSSGIS. Links to other sites are for convenience; we're not responsible for them.

8. Ending things

You can stop using the Service and delete your account at any time from your profile. We may suspend or end access for anyone who breaks these terms. A suspended account can't log in, and what it posted is hidden while the suspension lasts. We may change or discontinue the Service.

9. Disclaimers and liability

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind, to the fullest extent the law allows. To the fullest extent the law allows, we are not liable for indirect, incidental, special or consequential losses, or for any loss arising from your use of directions, places or content on the Service. Nothing in these terms limits liability that can't be limited by law.

10. Changes

We may update these terms. If changes are significant we'll say so on the site. Continuing to use the Service after changes take effect means you accept them.

11. Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, USA, without regard to conflict-of-law rules, except where the law where you live gives you rights that can't be waived.

12. Contact

Questions about these terms? Email hello@herebefore.us or contact us.