← Back to Home

Terms of Use

Last Updated: November 11, 2025

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, downloading, or using the microbee robot firmware and/or iOS/watchOS control application (collectively, the "Software"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Software.

2. Open Source License

The microbee Software is provided under the MIT License. The full text of the MIT License is available at: github.com/swiftwirt/microbee/blob/master/LICENSE

2.1 License Grant

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this Software and associated documentation files, to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, subject to the following conditions:

• The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
• Any modifications or derivative works must clearly indicate changes made from the original Software.

3. Educational and Personal Use

The Software is designed primarily for:

• Educational purposes in STEM learning environments
• Personal robotics projects and experimentation
• Open source community collaboration and development
• Non-commercial hobbyist applications

4. Hardware Requirements and Compatibility

4.1 Required Components

To use the Software, you must have:

• micro:bit v2 (or compatible) hardware
• Compatible motor control hardware (e.g., L298N motor driver)
• Appropriate power supply and safety components
• For iOS app: iPhone 8 Plus or newer running iOS 18.1+
• For watchOS app: Apple Watch Series 4 or newer running watchOS 11.1+

4.2 Compatibility Disclaimer

While we strive to maintain compatibility with standard micro:bit hardware, we cannot guarantee functionality with all hardware configurations, third-party components, or future hardware revisions.

5. Safety and Responsible Use

5.1 Electrical Safety

• Always use appropriate voltage levels for your hardware
• Ensure proper wiring and connections before powering on
• Use appropriate fuses and circuit protection
• Never connect or disconnect components while powered on
• Keep all electrical components away from water and conductive materials

5.2 Mechanical Safety

• Ensure robot motors and wheels are securely attached
• Test robots in a safe, enclosed environment first
• Keep fingers, hair, and loose clothing away from moving parts
• Use robots on flat, stable surfaces appropriate for their design
• Supervise children when operating robots

5.3 Operational Safety

• Test obstacle avoidance features before autonomous operation
• Do not operate robots near stairs, ledges, or water
• Maintain line of sight with your robot during operation
• Be prepared to immediately stop the robot if necessary
• Do not modify safety features or obstacle detection

5.4 Battery Safety

• Use only recommended battery types and voltages
• Never use damaged, swollen, or leaking batteries
• Charge batteries according to manufacturer specifications
• Store batteries safely when not in use
• Dispose of batteries properly according to local regulations

6. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.

Specifically:

• We make no warranty that the Software will be error-free or uninterrupted
• We do not warrant that the Software will meet your specific requirements
• We make no representations about the accuracy or reliability of sensor data
• We do not guarantee compatibility with all hardware configurations
• No verbal or written information from us creates any warranty

7. Limitation of Liability

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS, COPYRIGHT HOLDERS, OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Personal injury or property damage from robot operation
• Electrical damage to components or devices
• Data loss or device malfunction
• Loss of time or productivity
• Consequential, incidental, or special damages of any kind

8. User Responsibilities

By using the Software, you agree to:

• Use the Software in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
• Take full responsibility for the assembly, operation, and maintenance of your robot
• Ensure that your use does not endanger yourself or others
• Supervise minors who are using the Software
• Properly maintain and inspect all hardware components
• Follow all manufacturer guidelines for hardware components
• Not use the Software for any unlawful or prohibited purpose

9. Modifications and Customization

9.1 Your Rights

Under the MIT License, you are free to:

• Modify the firmware code for your specific needs
• Customize the iOS/watchOS app interface and functionality
• Create derivative works based on the Software
• Share your modifications with the community

9.2 Your Responsibilities

When modifying the Software:

• You assume all risks associated with your modifications
• Clearly document any changes you make
• Maintain attribution to the original authors
• Do not remove or alter copyright notices
• Consider contributing improvements back to the community

10. Community Guidelines

If you participate in the microbee community (GitHub, forums, etc.):

• Be respectful and constructive in all interactions
• Share knowledge and help other users
• Report bugs and security issues responsibly
• Give credit to others for their contributions
• Follow the code of conduct for each platform

11. Third-Party Components

The Software may use or reference third-party components, including:

• micro:bit hardware and firmware (micro:bit Educational Foundation)
• Microsoft MakeCode platform
• Apple iOS and watchOS frameworks
• Various open source libraries and tools

These components are governed by their respective licenses and terms of use.

12. Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we handle information. In summary: we do not collect any personal data from the Software.

13. Age Restrictions

The Software is suitable for users of all ages. However:

• Children under 13 should use the Software under adult supervision
• Parents/guardians are responsible for minors' use of the Software
• Adults should ensure children understand and follow safety guidelines
• Educational institutions should follow their own safety protocols

14. Support and Updates

14.1 Community Support

Support for the Software is provided on a voluntary, community basis through:

• GitHub Issues and Discussions
• Community forums and communication channels
• Open source collaboration

14.2 No Guarantee of Support

We do not guarantee:

• Response times to questions or issues
• Fixes for specific bugs or problems
• Implementation of requested features
• Continued development or maintenance

14.3 Updates

We may release updates to the Software at our discretion. You are not required to install updates, but we recommend staying current for security and feature improvements.

15. Intellectual Property

15.1 Copyright

The Software is copyright © 2026 Dmytro Ivashyn. All rights not expressly granted by the MIT License are reserved.

15.2 Trademarks

microbee™ is a trademark. The microbee name and logo are protected trademarks. Use of these marks requires attribution and should not imply official endorsement without permission.

15.3 Attribution

If you distribute the Software or derivative works, you must:

• Include the original MIT License and copyright notice
• Credit the microbee project and contributors
• Not misrepresent the origin of the Software

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with international open source licensing standards. Any disputes shall be resolved through good faith negotiation in the open source community.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

18. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to this page. Your continued use of the Software after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

19. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and MIT License, constitute the entire agreement between you and microbee regarding the Software.

20. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact:

• Email: support@microbee.ca
• GitHub: github.com/swiftwirt/microbee
• Issues: GitHub Issues

Acknowledgment

By using the microbee Software, you acknowledge that you have read these Terms of Use, understand them, and agree to be bound by them.