FINPOS Services Terms of Use

1. General

Satellite positioning accuracy using single receiver data typically ranges from several metres to tens of metres. FINPOS positioning services (hereinafter 'FINPOS services') operated by the National Land Survey of Finland can be used to improve the positioning accuracy up to the level of centimetres, depending on the type of service. FINPOS services utilise the observation data of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) base stations located throughout Finland. The observation data of the stations or the data model based on it is transmitted to the user of the service, who can use the data, for example, to improve the positioning solution of his/her own positioning device.

The FINPOS services maintained by the National Land Survey of Finland are free of charge and are based on the FinnRef and FINPOS base stations of the National Land Survey of Finland. The Service and all of its contents shall be provided ‘as they are’.

FINPOS services are described on the website of the National Land Survey of Finland

https://www.maanmittauslaitos.fi/finpos.

You may only use the FINPOS Services in accordance with these terms of use (hereinafter ‘Terms of Use’). The user of the services must read these Terms of Use carefully before using the service. Your use of the services is prohibited if you do not agree to these Terms of Use.

2. Acquiring access

FINPOS services are provided only to authorised persons (Users). Access can be obtained by registering as a User of the service on the website of the National Land Survey of Finland dealing with FINPOS services.

Access to the FINPOS RTK service for an already registered username must be applied for and justified separately with an electronic form. The right to use the RTK service is granted only for fixed-term research and test use, not for production. The RTK access granted will be added to the existing username.

During the registration phase of the FINPOS services, the User declares that he/she is familiar with these Terms of Use and accepts that the Terms of Use are binding on him/herself. When registering, the User must accept these Terms of Use and the Land Survey's data protection descriptions:

Privacy policy: Personal data of users of the National Land Survey of Finland’s information systems https://www.maanmittauslaitos.fi/en/data-protection-descriptions/users-of-the-information-systems

During the registration phase, by accepting the Terms of Use, the user gives the National Land Survey of Finland the right to process the person's contact information; see the chapter 7 for more details. 

The User undertakes to continuously comply with the current Terms of Use, as well as the current legislation, regulations and instructions issued by the National Land Survey of Finland regarding the use of FINPOS services and all other activities related to the services in question. The use of the services is prohibited if the User does not accept the Terms of Use or any part of them.

3. Rights and obligations of the National Land Survey of Finland

The National Land Survey of Finland may at any time change and specify these Terms of Use unilaterally at its sole discretion. Changes to the Terms of Use will take effect as soon as they are implemented. The National Land Survey of Finland endeavours to notify the user of any changes to the Terms of Use in advance by email or on the FINPOS website.

As an authority, the National Land Survey of Finland complies with the provisions of the Act on the Openness of Government Activities in the Production of FINPOS Services (621/1999), the Government Decree on Information Security in Government Administration (681/2010), the EU General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679), the Data Protection Act (1050/2018), the Act on the National Land Survey of Finland (1025/2018) and other mandatory legislation concerning the disclosure of information and documents, confidentiality, information security or good information management practices.

The National Land Survey of Finland generally ensures that the FINPOS services meet the requirements of the legislation and regulations in force at any given time, including the accuracy, availability, continuity, integrity, confidentiality and usability of the data processed in the FINPOS services.

4. Rights and obligations of the User

The User undertakes not to attempt to interrupt the operation of the FINPOS services or to use the services in a manner that may impair the ability of other Users to use the services.

The User is obliged to use the FINPOS services in accordance with these current Terms of Use, current legislation, government regulations and guidelines issued by the National Land Survey of Finland.

The User shall be responsible for the functionality and security of the equipment, systems, software, communications, communications and all the above-mentioned specifications, as well as other similar matters for which the user is responsible, and for the costs thereof. For the sake of clarity, it is stated that the National Land Survey of Finland is not obliged to advise the user on the above-mentioned issues or problems arising from them.

The National Land Survey of Finland shall provide the User with a user-specific username after the granting of the above-mentioned user right. The User may only use the username for the approved purpose specified in these Terms of Use. The User does not have the right to use the username for any purpose other than the approved use.

The User undertakes to use the username carefully so that the username cannot be accessed under the control or use of a third party. The User is responsible for the use of FINPOS services with their username, such as their own use. The User does not have the right to assign a username or to assign or sublicense the right to use FINPOS services to a third party without the prior written permission of the National Land Survey of Finland. The User's access to the FINPOS services expires if the user wishes to terminate his/her access or if the FINPOS services are terminated. You may make a request to terminate access through the contact channels on the FINPOS website.

If you use your username or otherwise use the FINPOS Services in violation of these Terms of Use, any applicable legislation, government regulations or guidelines issued by the National Land Survey of Finland, the National Land Survey of Finland may disable or permanently close your username to the FINPOS Services. The User shall be fully liable for any damage caused to the National Land Survey of Finland or to a third party in the event of a breach of the above obligations.

5. Content of FINPOS services

5.1. Usage times

FINPOS services are available, in principle, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The National Land Survey of Finland may disable the FINPOS services for reasons such as maintenance, upgrades, technical problems or other reasons, in which case the FINPOS services will not be available at the relevant times. In addition, the National Land Survey of Finland has the right to restrict the use of the service without prior notice. The National Land Survey of Finland endeavours, if possible, to inform the user in advance on the website of the National Land Survey of such outages concerning the FINPOS services, ‘Service Bulletins’ or by e-mail.

The National Land Survey of Finland shall not be liable for any disturbances or problems caused by outages or for any direct or indirect damage that may be caused to the user or to a third party.

5.2. Possible malfunctions and deficiencies

The availability and quality of FINPOS services may be affected, inter alia, by local communications and power grid problems at the base stations used for the service, or by problems affecting satellite positioning in general. There may be disruption, interruption or deficiency in FINPOS services due to the above or other circumstances.

Through the FINPOS services, the User has access to the data as it is at the time the data is disclosed. The User uses the FINPOS services and the data and other data obtained through the service at his/her own risk. The National Land Survey of Finland shall not be liable for the quality of the data or other data, or for any defects or errors therein, or for any direct or indirect damage that may be caused to the user or a third party.

The National Land Survey of Finland shall not be liable for any other direct or indirect damage caused to the user or to a third party in connection with the use or non-use of the FINPOS services.

5.3. Notification of disturbances and faults to National Land Survey of Finland

The user can report the malfunction and faults detected in the FINPOS services to the National Land Survey of Finland via the contact channels on the FINPOS website.

The National Land Survey of Finland shall endeavour to react as far as possible to incidents of disturbances and faults reported by the user or otherwise known to the user during office hours. The National Land Survey of Finland will endeavour to correct the relevant malfunction or defect as soon as possible after becoming aware of the malfunction or defect.

5.4. Changes

The National Land Survey of Finland may make changes to the FINPOS services, including to implement the necessary technical changes, or for other reasons. Any changes in legislation, government regulations or other similar matters will result in the FINPOS services being changed to reflect the relevant change. Possible legislative changes, government regulations or other similar issues may also lead to the discontinuation of FINPOS services.

The National Land Survey of Finland endeavours to notify the user of significant changes or service interruptions affecting the FINPOS services and/or the user as soon as possible on the website of the National Land Survey of Finland ‘Service Bulletins’ or by e-mail. The changes shall enter into force as soon as they have been implemented.

6. Intellectual property rights

Copyright and other intellectual property rights in FINPOS services and related materials belong to the National Land Survey of Finland or to a third party. These Terms of Use or your use of the FINPOS services do not transfer intellectual property rights between the National Land Survey of Finland and the User.

The user does not have the right to disclose the data obtained through the FINPOS services directly to a third party.

7. Processing of personal data

The FINPOS services process the names, email addresses, usernames and passwords of the users' natural or legal persons, location data and any other information (e.g. address, phone number and organization) that the user may provide for the provision of the service. The National Land Survey of Finland may use the personal data contained in FINPOS services for updating and maintaining the customer relationship, for communication related to the development of services and, if necessary, for informing customers in accordance with these terms of use.

Personal data is processed in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and other applicable data protection legislation. The personal data of the Users are part of the user data register of the information systems and premises of the National Land Survey of Finland and the customer relationship register of the National Land Survey of Finland mentioned in section 2.

The user's access will automatically terminate if the user has not renewed his/her access at the indicated time. Before the licence expires, in order to renew it, the National Land Survey of Finland shall provide the User's e-mail address with instructions for renewal, which follow the instructions to continue the licence.

Username-specific information about the use of the username is not stored for more than two years in FINPOS services.

The National Land Survey of Finland will not disclose to a third party any personal data concerning the users processed in the FINPOS services, unless such disclosure is required by mandatory legislation or by order of a court or authority. In addition, the National Land Survey of Finland does not use the personal data of the users for purposes other than the production of the FINPOS service. The National Land Survey of Finland does not transfer any personal data outside the European Union or the European Economic Area.

8. Force majeure

In addition to what has been stated elsewhere in these Terms of Use, the National Land Survey of Finland is not responsible for any extraordinary event or circumstance (force majeure) or any direct or indirect damage caused by such an obstacle, interference, defect or damage to the provision or use of the FINPOS Services.

Force majeure includes, but is not limited to, war, rebellion, seizure or confiscation for public need, import or export ban, natural disaster, interruption of public transport, public telecommunications or energy distribution, labour dispute, fire or other reasons beyond the control of the National Land Survey of Finland.

9. Applicable law and the settlement of disputes

FINPOS services and their use are governed by Finnish law, with the exception of the mandatory Finnish conflict of laws provisions, which result in the application of the law of a foreign country.

Disputes regarding FINPOS services will be primarily settled by negotiation between the National Land Survey of Finland and the user. If the dispute cannot be resolved within ninety (90) days of the submission of the negotiation proposal, the dispute shall be settled at the first instance by the Helsinki District Court.