An Island of Light1- 30 September 2026

Homo Faber — Terms of use

About Michelangelo Foundation and these Terms of Use


The Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship (the "Michelangelo Foundation") is a Swiss foundation with its registered offices at 1 Pont de la Machine, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland. The Michelangelo Foundation operates and makehs available the Michelangelo Foundation and Homo Faber websites and mobile applications, including Homo Faber Connect (together, the “Platforms”).


These Terms of Use govern your access to and use of the Platforms. In these Terms of Use, “Michelangelo Foundation”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship. Our affiliates and service providers may assist us in operating the Platforms, but these Terms are between you and the Michelangelo Foundation.


Please read these Terms of Use carefully. By creating an account, activating Homo Faber Connect or otherwise accessing or using the Platforms, you agree to these Terms of Use and enter into a legally binding agreement with us. If you do not agree, do not create an account, activate Homo Faber Connect or use the Platforms.


Some features of the Platforms may be provided or supported by third-party service providers. Their terms may apply to the relevant third-party service, but do not replace these Terms of Use.


Updates to these Terms of Use


We may update these Terms of Use from time to time. The latest version will be available on the Platforms. If a change materially affects your rights or obligations, we will provide reasonable notice where practicable, for example through the Platforms or using your contact information. A revised version will take effect on the date stated in the notice. If you object to a change, you may close your account and stop using the Platforms. By continuing to use the Platforms after the effective date, you agree to the revised Terms of Use.


Your Account and Eligibility


Eligibility and activation. Homo Faber Connect and the account-based features of the Platforms are intended only for users who are at least 18 years old (the “Minimum Age”). To activate Homo Faber Connect, you must complete the age-confirmation step presented in the app and confirm that you are at least the Minimum Age. The confirmation is mandatory; if you do not provide it, you will not be able to activate or use Homo Faber Connect. If applicable law requires a higher age for us to provide the Platforms or process your personal data without parental consent, that higher age applies. You must provide truthful information, including about your age, and creating an account using false information is a breach of these Terms of Use.


One account per user. You may have one personal account on the Platforms, in your own name. You may not sell, transfer, lend or share your account or allow another person to use it.


Account security. You are responsible for keeping your account credentials confidential and for activity through your account, except to the extent caused by our failure to use reasonable care. If you suspect unauthorised access, notify us promptly and take the steps available in the app to secure or close the account.


Availability and third-party services


The Platforms may rely on third-party hosting, authentication, messaging, analytics and other service providers. We may change those providers and the technical arrangements used to operate the Platforms. Our Privacy Policy explains how personal data is handled when providers support the Platforms.


We aim to keep the Platforms available and secure, but availability may vary by device, network, location and maintenance requirements. Features may be changed, suspended or discontinued as described in these Terms of Use.


Mobile application and app stores


These Terms of Use include the end-user licence for the mobile application. We grant you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable licence to install and use the application on a device that you own or control, solely to access the Platforms for personal, non-commercial purposes and subject to these Terms of Use.


If you obtain the application through Apple App Store, Google Play or another app store, your download and use are also subject to that store’s terms. The applicable app-store operator is not a party to these Terms of Use and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, is not responsible for the application, its content, maintenance or support.


The applicable app-store operator and its affiliates are intended third-party beneficiaries of the provisions relating to the application downloaded through that store and may enforce those provisions where permitted by the store’s terms.


Privacy policies


Our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy explain how we collect and use information in connection with the Platforms. By creating an account or activating Homo Faber Connect, you acknowledge that you have received the Privacy Policy and understand that your personal data will be processed as described in it.


Notices and Communications


You agree that we may provide notices and messages to you: (a) through the Platforms; or (b) using the contact information you provide to us (for example, by email, mobile number, or postal address). You agree to keep your contact information accurate and up to date. If your contact information is out of date, you may miss important notices.


You can control and limit the types of communications you receive from us through the settings within your account and, where applicable, by following the unsubscribe instructions in our messages.


Use of materials on the Platforms


The Platforms provide information about the Michelangelo Foundation and its programmes for your personal use. Images of creations are intended to be representative, but may differ from the original creations because of display, device or technical factors. We do not guarantee that images will exactly match the original creations.


Unless we state otherwise, you may download or print one copy of materials made available through the Platforms, and install the application on a device you own or control, for personal, non-commercial, educational, private or domestic use. You must keep copyright, trademark and other proprietary notices intact. Unless otherwise stated, materials made available through the Platforms, including images, photographs, illustrations, icons, text, video, music and other content, are protected by copyright, design, trademark and other applicable laws.


Except as expressly permitted by these Terms of Use or applicable law, you may not sell, reproduce, distribute, communicate, modify, publicly display, publicly perform, create derivative works from or otherwise use the Michelangelo Foundation’s materials for public or commercial purposes. You may not make those materials available on another platform or in a networked computer environment. If you breach this section, the licence to use those materials ends automatically and you must destroy copies you made. Unauthorised use may infringe copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity or communications laws.


Homo Faber Connect and user-generated content


By creating an account, activating Homo Faber Connect or using an account-based feature, you enter into a legally binding agreement with the Michelangelo Foundation. This applies whether you use third-party credentials. If you do not agree to these Terms of Use, do not create an account, activate Homo Faber Connect or use the account-based features. You may end this agreement at any time by closing your account and stopping use of the Platforms.



Homo Faber Connect. Homo Faber Connect is an optional feature within the Homo Faber mobile application. If you activate it, you can create a profile, receive or accept connection suggestions, connect with other users and communicate with users with whom you are connected through direct messages. If and when additional features such as public comments, likes, replies or other social interactions are made available, they will also be governed by these Terms of Use. You can deactivate Connect or close your account through the app settings, subject to any retention required by law or described in our Privacy Policy.


User Content. When you use Homo Faber Connect, you may upload, create or transmit content, including your profile information, profile picture, additional images, biography, interests and messages sent through Connect. If and when additional features are made available, User Content may also include comments, replies, likes, reactions and other contributions you make through those features (together, “User Content"). You retain ownership of your User Content. We do not acquire ownership of it merely because you use the Platforms.


Licence to us. By uploading, creating or transmitting User Content, you grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to host, store, reproduce, adapt as technically necessary, display, make available and communicate that User Content through the Platforms, and to permit our service providers to do so on our behalf, in each case to operate, provide, secure and moderate Homo Faber Connect and in accordance with your settings.


  • The licence ends for specific User Content when you delete it from the Platforms and generally when you close your account, except to the extent the content has been shared with other users who retain a copy, is needed to preserve the integrity or security of the Platforms, is retained in backups for a reasonable period, or must be retained by law or for a legal claim.

  • We will not use your User Content in advertising or marketing materials without your separate consent.

  • We may make minor technical changes to your User Content, such as resizing images or changing file types, where necessary to display or deliver it. We will not materially alter the meaning of your expression in User Content shared with others.

You may encounter content or information made available by other users or third parties that is inaccurate, incomplete, delayed, misleading, unlawful, offensive or otherwise harmful. We do not endorse or verify User Content and are not responsible for it to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. We use automated tools and human review to help identify misuse, but no system can prevent every misuse. Interactions with other users are at your own risk; take reasonable care and do not share information or arrange transactions unless you are comfortable doing so.


Your warranties. You confirm that you own or control the rights needed to upload and share User Content and to grant the licence above. You are responsible for obtaining any permissions needed from people depicted or identified in your User Content. You must ensure that User Content is accurate to the extent it purports to describe you and does not violate the law or another person’s rights, including intellectual property, privacy or publicity rights.


Sharing and visibility. Unless you choose otherwise in your settings, your profile is visible only to users you have connected with or to people who receive a direct link to it. You may make your profile public through the settings or activate private mode to exclude it from matching suggestions. Content you send through direct messages is intended for the relevant recipients, but may be accessed by authorised moderators as described in these Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. If and when public commenting, liking, replying or other social features are made available, additional visibility and sharing controls may apply as described in the relevant feature settings. We will apply your visibility choices prospectively, subject to content already shared or retained as described above.


No storage service. The Platforms are not a data-storage service. We do not promise to store or display User Content indefinitely or without interruption. User Content may be removed or restricted under these Terms of Use, and deletion may take a reasonable period to complete across active systems and backups.


Prohibited Content


You must not upload, share or transmit through the Platforms any User Content that:


  • is unlawful or facilitates unlawful activity, including child sexual abuse or exploitation, terrorism, credible threats to life or safety, trafficking, fraud, hate speech, incitement to violence, harassment or stalking;

  • is sexually explicit, exploits or sexualises minors, contains non-consensual intimate imagery or graphic violence, or is otherwise inappropriate for a community platform dedicated to craftsmanship and culture;

  • is spam, a scam, misleading or fraudulent, impersonates another person or entity, or uses manipulated media to mislead or cause harm;

  • infringes or misappropriates another person’s intellectual property, privacy, publicity, confidentiality or other rights;

  • discloses another person’s personal data without a lawful basis or that person's consent, or exposes them to a serious safety risk;

  • contains viruses, malware or other harmful code, or attempts to compromise the security of the Platforms;

  • evades or interferes with our moderation or reporting systems, or is otherwise inconsistent with the purpose of the Platforms or these Terms of Use.

Content Moderation and Reporting


Our moderation approach. We use automated tools and human review to help identify and address content and conduct that may breach these Terms of Use or applicable law. Our approach depends on the type of content and the circumstances.


• Public content, including profiles, profile fields, images, biographies and, where applicable, public comments, replies or other publicly visible User Content, may be scanned when uploaded and periodically afterwards by moderation technology to identify content that may breach these Terms of Use.


• Direct messages are not end-to-end encrypted. Before you first use direct messaging, we will display a notice that message content may be scanned by our internal AI-assisted moderation technology. The moderation tool flags potentially prohibited content, including illegal content, threats or harassment, for review by a human moderator. No moderation action is taken by automated means alone. If you do not agree to this processing, do not use direct messaging.


• You and any other person may report content or conduct that you believe breaches these Terms of Use or applicable law, without charge, using reporting controls made available where content appears in the Homo Faber mobile application, including on profiles, profile fields, images, biographies, direct messages and, where applicable, comments, replies or other User Content. Persons who are not registered users may use the web-based reporting form on our website.


Review and outcomes. Reports and content flagged by our moderation tools are reviewed by a member of our moderation team. Automated tools may identify, prioritise or flag content, but do not make final decisions on their own to remove or restrict content or to suspend or terminate an account. Depending on the circumstances, we may leave content in place, remove or restrict it, add a warning, limit access to a feature, or suspend or terminate an account.


Statement of reasons. If we remove, restrict or otherwise take action against your content, or suspend, terminate or restrict your account, we will provide a clear statement of reasons through an in-app notification and, where an email address is available, by email. The statement will identify the relevant rule or provision, the factual basis or type of content at issue, any legal basis for the action, the action taken and how to appeal. We may limit the information provided where required by law or necessary to protect an investigation, the safety of users or the rights of others.


Notification to authorities. We may report content or related information to law enforcement or another competent authority where required by law or where we reasonably believe this is necessary to address a serious criminal offence or an imminent threat to life or safety.


Appeals


If we take a moderation decision that affects you, you may challenge it free of charge through the appeal function in the Homo Faber mobile application within six months after receiving the relevant notice, or for a longer period where required by applicable law. If you cannot access the app, you may use the web-based appeal form or other appeal channel identified in the notice. Please provide the reasons for your appeal and any supporting information. Your appeal will be reviewed by a member of our moderation team who was not involved in the original decision. We will inform you of the outcome within a reasonable time and, where appropriate, restore content or reverse the action if the appeal is successful.


Recommendations and Automated Processing


We may use information you provide and information about your use of the Platforms to organise content and offer optional connection, event or interest suggestions. These suggestions are intended to help you use the Platforms and do not determine your legal rights or access to the Platforms.


The matching system used for Homo Faber Connect provides suggestions for you to consider and does not make decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning you. You can influence or stop matching suggestions by changing your profile settings or activating private mode.


Prohibited Conduct


You must not:


  • Create a false identity on the Platforms, misrepresent your identity, create a profile for anyone other than yourself (a real person), or use or attempt to use another person's account (including by sharing log-in credentials or copying cookies);

  • Develop, support, or use software, devices, scripts, robots, or any other means or processes (such as crawlers, browser plug-ins, or add-ons) to scrape or copy the Platforms, including profiles and other content from the Platforms;

  • Override any security feature or bypass or circumvent any access controls or use limits of the Platforms (such as search results, profiles, or images);

  • Copy, use, display, or distribute any information (including content) obtained from the Platforms, whether directly or through third parties (such as search tools or data aggregators), without the consent of the content owner (including the Michelangelo Foundation for content it owns);

  • Disclose information that you do not have the consent to disclose (such as confidential information belonging to other users, third parties, or your employer);

  • Violate the intellectual property rights of others, including copyrights, designs, trademarks, trade secrets, or other proprietary rights. In particular, do not copy or distribute the User Content of other users without their permission;

  • Violate the intellectual property or other rights of the Michelangelo Foundation, including (i) copying or distributing materials made available through the Platforms; (ii) copying or distributing the technology underlying the Platforms; or (iii) using the words "Homo Faber", "Michelangelo Foundation” or our logos in any business name, email or URL without our express written permission;

  • Post or share anything that contains viruses, worms, or any other harmful code;

  • Reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, decipher, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code for the Platforms or any related technology;

  • Imply or state that you are affiliated with or endorsed by the Michelangelo Foundation without our express consent (for example, by representing yourself as an official Homo Faber ambassador, trainer, or partner);

  • Rent, lease, loan, trade, sell, resell, or otherwise monetise the Platforms, any content on the Platforms, or access to the Platforms, without our consent;

  • Deep-link to the Platforms for any purpose other than to promote your own profile on Homo Faber Connect, without our consent;

  • Use bots or other unauthorised automated methods to access the Platforms, add or download contacts, send or redirect messages, create connection requests, or otherwise drive inauthentic engagement;

  • Engage in "framing", "mirroring", or otherwise simulating the appearance or function of the Platforms;

  • Overlay or otherwise modify the Platforms or their appearance (for example, by inserting elements into the Platforms or removing, covering, or obscuring content displayed on the Platforms);

  • Interfere with the operation of, or place an unreasonable load on, the Platforms (for example, by sending spam, launching a denial-of-service attack, distributing viruses, or manipulating the recommendation or matching systems);

  • Use the Platforms to do anything that is unlawful, misleading, discriminatory, fraudulent, or deceitful (including the sharing of manipulated media that wrongfully depicts a person saying or doing something they did not say or do); or

  • Misuse our reporting or appeals process, including by submitting duplicative, fraudulent, or unfounded reports, complaints, or appeals.


Feedback and unsolicited communications


This section concerns communications sent to the Michelangelo Foundation outside your use of Homo Faber Connect, such as questions, suggestions or feedback. It does not apply to User Content or personal data, which are governed by the relevant sections of these Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.


Any feedback or other unsolicited communication that you send to the Michelangelo Foundation through the Platforms, social media, email or otherwise will not be treated as confidential unless we expressly agree otherwise. Do not send information that you wish to keep confidential.


By sending feedback or other unsolicited communications, you grant the Michelangelo Foundation a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to use, reproduce, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, perform and display that feedback in any medium for operating, improving or promoting the Platforms, and to sublicense those rights. This licence does not transfer ownership of User Content or permit us to use personal data or identify you publicly except as permitted by our Privacy Policy or with your consent.



Limitation of liability


The Platforms, including information, materials and User Content made available through them, are provided for general information and community purposes. We do not warrant that information is complete, accurate, current or reliable, or that use of the Platforms will not infringe third-party rights. We do not verify all user identities, profiles or content.


To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Platforms and all related content and services are provided "as is" and "as available”, without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, reasonable care and skill, non-infringement, availability or security. We do not warrant that the Platforms will be uninterrupted, error-free or free of viruses or other harmful components.


To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Michelangelo Foundation and its service providers will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive losses, or for loss of profits, revenue, business, opportunity, goodwill, data or use, arising from or related to the Platforms, User Content, interactions with other users or any inability to use the Platforms, regardless of the legal basis of the claim. We are not responsible for acts or omissions of other users or third parties.


Nothing in these Terms of Use excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or wilful misconduct. Nothing in these Terms of Use limits any mandatory consumer rights.


Trademark notice


In general, all trademarks, logos and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed on the Platforms are either owned or licensed to the Michelangelo Foundation by third parties. Other trademarks are proprietary marks and are registered to their respective owners. Nothing contained on the Platforms should be construed as granting, by implication or otherwise, any licence or right to use any trademark without the Michelangelo Foundation's prior written permission or that of such third party who owns the trademark. Misuse of any trademark displayed on the Platforms, or any other content on the Platforms, except as provided herein, is strictly prohibited.


Copyright notice


All content, including materials made available through the Platforms, is either owned by or licensed to the Michelangelo Foundation. All rights are reserved. Please refer to the section above on Use of materials on the Platforms.


Links & linking


The Platforms may contain links to other platforms operated by third parties not affiliated to the Michelangelo Foundation. The inclusion of any link to such third party sites does not imply endorsement by the Michelangelo Foundation of those sites. The Michelangelo Foundation has not reviewed all of the content contained in the linked sites and is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any off-site pages or any other sites linked to any of the Platforms. If you choose to click through any link to off-site pages or third party sites then this is at your own risk. The Michelangelo Foundation does not authorise linking to any of its Platforms from a third party platform without its express prior written authorisation.


Termination and suspension


You may terminate your agreement with us at any time by closing your account and stopping use of the Platforms. We may suspend or terminate your account or access to all or part of the Platforms, remove or restrict User Content, or limit features where reasonably necessary to comply with law, enforce these Terms of Use, protect users or the public, address security or fraud, or respond to a serious or repeated breach. We will take proportionate action and, unless prohibited by law or necessary to protect an investigation or someone’s safety or rights, notify you of the action and the reasons for it.


We may take immediate temporary action where necessary to address an urgent safety, legal or security risk. We may also modify or discontinue a Platform or feature and, where practicable, provide reasonable notice. You may challenge a moderation decision through the appeal process above. We may retain records of reports, moderation decisions, suspensions and terminations for as long as reasonably necessary to process appeals, comply with law, prevent abuse or ban evasion, enforce these Terms of Use and defend legal claims, as described in our Privacy Policy. The provisions concerning User Content, limitation of liability, intellectual property, general provisions and applicable law survive termination to the extent their nature requires.


General provisions


The Platforms and materials are provided for general information and community purposes and are not professional advice or a guarantee of any outcome. We do not represent that the Platforms or materials are appropriate or available in every country. You are responsible for complying with laws applicable where you access or use them, and you must not use them where doing so would be unlawful.


If any provision, or part of a provision, of these Terms of Use is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, it will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, if permitted by law. If it cannot be modified, it will be treated as deleted. The remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect unless applicable law requires otherwise.


These Terms of Use, together with the Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy to the extent referenced in them, constitute the entire agreement between you and us concerning your use of the Platforms and replace prior agreements or arrangements on that subject. Terms imposed by a third-party service provider govern only your use of that provider’s service and do not amend these Terms of Use.


A failure or delay by us in enforcing any provision of these Terms of Use does not waive our right to enforce that provision later or to enforce any other provision.


The Platforms are made available from Switzerland. Nothing in these Terms of Use requires us to make the Platforms available in any particular country, and we may restrict access where reasonably necessary to comply with law or protect the Platforms or their users.


Applicable law and jurisdiction


These Terms of Use and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or relating to them are governed by Swiss law, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. Subject to mandatory consumer protection laws, the competent courts in Geneva, Switzerland, shall have jurisdiction over disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms of Use. If mandatory law in your country gives you additional rights or permits you to bring a claim in another court, those rights are not affected.


Contact us


If you have questions or comments about these Terms of Use, need help with your account, or wish to exercise a privacy right, contact us using the details below. Reporting and appeals should be submitted through the in-app or web-based channels described above where available.


Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship

Rue du Rhône 8

1204 Geneva, Switzerland

Tel. +41 22 808 5880

Mail: info@michelangelofoundation.org