Legal
This English version is provided for your convenience. Only the German version is legally binding.
Read the German version →1.1 These General Terms and Conditions (the "Terms") govern the use of the "Needl" platform, including the website at needl.at and the mobile application for iOS.
1.2 The operator and contracting party is Jona Sebastian Schedelberger, Töllergasse 3/3/22, 1210 Vienna, Austria (hereinafter "Needl", "we", "us"). Full provider details can be found in the Imprint.
1.3 Deviating terms and conditions of users do not apply unless we expressly agree to them in writing.
1.4 The German-language version of these Terms is authoritative. Translations are provided solely for ease of understanding.
Artist: a person who uses Needl to present their services, manage requests and communicate with clients, acting in a commercial capacity.
Client: a person who uses Needl to plan tattoo ideas and to get in touch with artists. Clients generally act as consumers within the meaning of the Austrian Consumer Protection Act (KSchG).
User: artists and clients collectively.
Idea: a planning project created by a client, including the images, links and notes collected within it.
Request: an appointment request submitted to an artist via Needl.
3.1 Use of the platform requires a user account. There is no entitlement to registration. A confirmed e-mail address is additionally required in order to send requests to artists and to communicate via the platform; creating and sharing ideas and viewing artists is possible without confirmation.
3.2 Use is reserved for persons who have reached the age of 18. On registration, users expressly confirm that they have reached this minimum age.
3.3 Users are obliged to provide truthful information and to keep it up to date. Access credentials must be kept confidential and must not be passed on to third parties. We must be notified without delay if unauthorised use is suspected.
3.4 As a rule, one user account is permitted per person.
4.1 An artist profile becomes publicly visible and bookable only after approval by us. The account itself is fully usable before that: the artist can sign in, set up their profile and request publication; we then review the profile and publish it. There is no entitlement to approval; the decision is at our discretion.
4.2 Approval serves solely to prevent abuse and deception. In particular, it does not constitute a review of
4.3 We give no assurance regarding the person of an artist or the services they provide. Approval does not constitute a seal of quality or a recommendation.
4.4 The artist warrants that they hold all trade and professional licences required for their activity and that they comply with all relevant regulations. This includes in particular the regulations on the permissible minimum age of the person being tattooed and on information, consent and documentation. Compliance with these regulations rests solely with the artist.
4.5 We may review approval at any time and revoke it if the requirements cease to be met.
5.1 Needl provides software that enables clients to plan tattoo ideas, share them with artists and submit requests to artists, and that enables artists to manage those requests and communicate with clients.
5.2 Ideas can be shared via a link. Anyone in possession of such a link can view the idea without holding a user account. Users decide for themselves to whom they pass links on.
5.3 We develop the platform on an ongoing basis. Features may be added, changed or discontinued, provided this is reasonable for users and the essential scope of services is preserved.
6.1 Needl provides the technical platform only. We do not become a party to contracts concluded between clients and artists.
6.2 The contract for a tattoo or any other service provided by an artist is concluded exclusively between the client and the artist. Those two parties alone are responsible for its formation, content and performance.
6.3 We owe neither the arrangement of an appointment nor the conclusion of a booking. We are not liable for an artist's services, for their quality, for cancelled appointments, for harm arising from a tattoo, or for any other conduct of users.
6.4 Disputes between clients and artists are to be resolved directly between them. We are not obliged to mediate or to decide in such disputes.
7.1 If a client and an artist agree on a deposit, it is paid directly between those two parties, for example by bank transfer or via a payment service of their choosing.
7.2 Needl is at no point the payee, trustee or payment service provider for such payments. We do not process payments between users and do not hold third-party funds.
7.3 The platform merely reflects the payment arrangements stated by an artist and whether a payment has been marked by them as received. This information originates from the artist. We do not verify it and accept no liability for its accuracy.
7.4 The reversal of deposits, in particular in the event of cancellation or no-show, is governed exclusively by the arrangements between client and artist.
8.1 This section applies to purchases concluded via needl.at. Our payment service provider is Stripe.
8.2 The following prices apply:
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Artist subscription | €29.99 per month |
| Client subscription (unlimited ideas), monthly | €1.99 per month |
| Client subscription (unlimited ideas), yearly | €9.99 per year |
8.3 All prices are final prices. Due to the small business exemption pursuant to § 6 para. 1 no. 27 Austrian VAT Act (UStG), no value added tax is shown.
8.4 The presentation of services on the website does not constitute a binding offer. By activating the button marked as entailing an obligation to pay, users submit a binding offer. The contract is concluded upon our confirmation by e-mail or upon activation of the service.
8.5 Before the order is placed, the essential characteristics of the service, the total price, the term and the cancellation conditions are displayed.
9.1 Purchases within the iOS app are processed exclusively through Apple's in-app purchase system.
9.2 The following prices apply:
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Artist subscription | €34.99 per month |
| Client subscription (unlimited ideas), monthly | €1.99 per month |
| Client subscription (unlimited ideas), yearly | €9.99 per year |
9.3 Where these prices differ from those on the website, the difference is due to the fees Apple charges for processing in-app purchases. For the client subscription, the prices are the same on both platforms.
9.4 In the case of an in-app purchase, the purchase contract is concluded between the user and Apple. Apple's terms govern payment processing, invoicing, management and cancellation of the subscription, and refunds.
9.5 We are technically unable to cancel or refund in-app purchases. Refund requests must be addressed directly to Apple. A subscription concluded via Apple is cancelled in the settings of the Apple account.
9.6 Rights under these Terms vis-à-vis Needl remain unaffected.
10.1 For contracts concluded via the website, consumers are generally entitled to withdraw within 14 days without giving reasons, pursuant to the Austrian Distance and Off-Premises Transactions Act (FAGG). The period begins upon conclusion of the contract.
10.2 An unequivocal declaration to team@needl.at is sufficient to exercise this right. The model withdrawal form in the appendix can be used for this, but is not mandatory.
10.3 In the case of digital services that are activated immediately, the right of withdrawal expires early if, before the contract is concluded, the consumer
Both declarations are obtained separately during the ordering process and documented by us.
10.4 Artists acting in a commercial capacity have no right of withdrawal under the FAGG.
10.5 For purchases via the iOS app, Apple's refund terms apply (see section 9).
11.1 Irrespective of section 10, we will refund an annual subscription concluded via the website in full, on request and without giving reasons, within 30 days of conclusion. An informal message to team@needl.at is sufficient.
11.2 This voluntary arrangement does not apply to subscriptions billed monthly; they end with the end of the current month in any case (section 12).
11.3 Upon refund, the subscription ends and the extended scope of services ceases to apply. Ideas already created remain accessible within the free scope.
11.4 This voluntary arrangement does not apply to purchases via the iOS app, as refunds there are handled exclusively by Apple.
12.1 This section applies to both subscriptions — the artist subscription and the client subscription under section 13.
12.2 What the artist subscription covers. An artist profile is publicly visible and reachable for requests only while an artist subscription is in place or the trial period under section 12.3 is running. Approval under section 4 is required in addition. Without a subscription the account remains fully usable — the profile can be created and edited, and existing requests can still be handled and answered — but the profile does not appear in search and cannot be reached at its profile address.
12.3 Trial period (artist subscription only). The artist subscription begins with a free trial period of one month, which starts when the artist profile is published for the first time. If it is not cancelled during the trial period, the subscription converts into a paid subscription. There is no trial period for the client subscription; its place is taken by the permanently free scope under section 13.1.
12.4 Both subscriptions run for an indefinite period and are billed in advance. The artist subscription is billed monthly; the client subscription monthly or yearly, depending on the period chosen.
12.5 A subscription may be cancelled by either party at any time with effect from the end of the current billing period. No notice period applies.
12.6 Cancellation is effected, for contracts concluded via the website, in the account settings or informally by e-mail to team@needl.at, and for contracts concluded via the iOS app, in the settings of the Apple account.
12.7 Fees already paid for the current billing period are not refunded on a pro-rata basis; section 11 remains unaffected. Access continues until the end of the paid period.
12.8 Late payment and grace period. If a payment fails, the subscription initially continues in full: for 16 days from the first failed charge, the artist profile stays public and the extended scope of the client subscription is retained. Payment details can be updated within that period; if payment then succeeds, the subscription continues without interruption. We notify you of the failed payment and of the end of the period. Once the period expires, the subscription ends under section 12.9. For contracts concluded via the iOS app, the grace period configured by Apple applies; if it is shorter, the period ends correspondingly earlier.
12.9 End of the artist subscription. When the artist subscription ends — by cancellation, by the trial period expiring without a subscription being taken out, by a failed payment once the period under section 12.8 has run out, or by the paid period running out — the profile is automatically set to "not published" at that point. It is then no longer reachable in search or at its profile address, and no new requests are possible. We do not announce this separately; the decisive point in time is the one under section 12.7.
The profile itself and all its content, the profile address, and all existing requests and message histories are retained; these can still be viewed and answered. If a subscription is taken out again later, the profile can be published again; a fresh approval under section 4 is not required for that, provided the original approval has not been revoked.
13.1 Without a subscription, up to five ideas may be created per user account, permanently and free of charge. The client subscription lifts this limit for the duration of the subscription.
13.2 The extended scope is not transferable. If the subscription ends, ideas already created remain accessible within the free scope; new ideas can only be created again once the number of ideas falls below the limit under 13.1 or a subscription exists again.
13.2a Protection of earlier one-time purchases. Until 20 September 2026, the extended scope was offered as a one-time purchase. Anyone who made this one-time purchase retains the extended scope permanently and free of charge for as long as the service is operated; a subscription is neither required nor demanded for this.
13.3 Permitted purpose. The service is intended solely for planning tattoos. Creating content for other purposes, in particular use as general image or file storage, is not covered by the scope of services.
13.4 Limit to prevent abuse. The extended scope applies to up to 500 ideas per user account. If this number is reached, we will contact the user; an increase is possible on a case-by-case basis. This limit is displayed before the subscription is concluded.
13.5 In the event of a breach of section 13.3, we may remove the affected content after prior request and, in serious or repeated cases, proceed in accordance with section 18.
14.1 We are entitled to discontinue operation of the platform.
14.2 Discontinuation will be announced at least three months in advance by e-mail to all registered users and on the website.
14.3 Users will have the opportunity, until the end of that period, to export their content in a common, machine-readable format.
14.4 Ongoing subscriptions end at the time of discontinuation. Fees already paid for any period beyond that will be refunded on a pro-rata basis. For contracts concluded via the iOS app, handling is governed by Apple's terms.
15.1 Users retain ownership of all rights in the content they submit.
15.2 Users grant us the non-exclusive right, unrestricted as to territory and limited to the duration of use, to store this content, process it technically and display it within the platform, insofar as this is necessary to provide the service. For content that continues to exist with the other contracting party after the uploading person's use has ended, under section 19.6 or 19.7 — in particular the other party's own message content and any stored aftercare instructions — this time limitation does not apply: the right continues to the extent necessary to fulfil the purpose named in section 19.6 or 19.7. No right to use the content for advertising purposes is granted; such use takes place only with separate consent.
15.3 Users warrant that they hold the necessary rights in the content they submit and that it does not infringe the rights of third parties.
15.4 We do not review content in advance and are not obliged to carry out such a review.
15.5 Prohibited content includes in particular content that
15.6 Also prohibited are the automated extraction of content, the circumvention of technical restrictions, and acts that impair the availability or security of the platform.
16.1 Illegal content can be reported at any time to team@needl.at. This is also our point of contact under Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on digital services (Digital Services Act).
16.2 A report should contain: a statement of reasons why the content is said to be illegal, the precise location of the content, contact details of the reporting person, and a declaration that the information is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge.
16.3 We confirm receipt and decide promptly, diligently and without arbitrariness. We inform the reporting person of the decision and, where content is removed or blocked, the affected user as well, stating the reasons.
16.4 Affected users may object to a decision within six months. The objection is to be addressed to team@needl.at and will be reviewed by us again.
16.5 The official language for reports and communication is German; reports in English will also be processed.
17.1 We endeavour to keep the platform highly available, but we do not owe any particular level of availability and do not guarantee any operating hours.
17.2 Restrictions may arise in particular from maintenance work, technical faults, attacks on the infrastructure or outages at service providers we use. We will announce planned maintenance work in advance where possible.
17.3 The platform does not replace users' own backups. Users are advised to additionally back up important content themselves.
18.1 We may warn a user account, restrict individual features, suspend the account temporarily or terminate the contract if a user
18.2 In doing so, we will choose the mildest suitable measure in each case and take account of the severity and frequency of the breach. A permanent suspension will as a rule be preceded by a warning, unless this is unreasonable given the severity of the breach.
18.3 The affected user will be informed of the measure and the reasons for it and may object to it in accordance with section 16.4.
18.4 The right of either party to extraordinary termination for cause remains unaffected.
18.5 Where a suspension is imposed by us for a reason attributable to the user, there is no entitlement to a refund of fees already paid.
18.6 Notice period for full termination of an artist. Where we terminate, under 18.1, the full provision of our intermediation service to an artist (as distinct from a merely temporary suspension or restriction of features), we will give at least 30 days' advance notice together with the reasons, unless
A temporary suspension or restriction of individual features under 18.1 is not covered by this notice period; 18.3 continues to apply to it.
19.1 Users can delete their account themselves at any time, in the account settings of both the iOS app and the website. Deletion requires the password to be entered again and takes effect immediately. There is no waiting period, no temporary deactivation and no way to restore the account. We confirm completion by e-mail.
19.2 An export of your own data can be requested before deletion. After deletion this is no longer possible.
19.3 The following in particular are permanently removed:
19.4 Ongoing subscriptions. Termination takes effect immediately, not at the end of the current billing period, and fees already paid for the remaining period are not refunded (section 12.7). To avoid this, cancel the subscription under section 12.5 and delete the account only once the paid period has expired.
19.5 Shared links cease to be valid along with the idea they belong to; the idea can no longer be opened through them. We cannot retrieve copies that recipients have made outside the platform.
19.6 What remains with the other party. A request and the message history belonging to it are also the other party's own record of their business relationship, and are therefore not deleted. The deleted user's name is replaced by a neutral label. The content of the messages they sent is permanently removed no later than 24 months after deletion; all that then remains is that a message was sent at a particular time.
19.7 Artist profiles with a booking history. Where an artist has already received requests, their profile cannot be removed in full without also deleting the booking history of the clients concerned. In that case the record remains, but all identifying information is removed — including the previous profile address (URL), which other artists can then claim again — the profile is permanently unpublished and the account is deactivated; signing in is no longer possible. Any stored aftercare instructions remain, because they form part of the client's completed booking and continue to be displayed to them.
19.8 Support requests, and reports and blocks under section 16, are anonymised on deletion and permanently deleted no later than 24 months thereafter.
19.9 This does not affect records kept by third parties under their own statutory obligations, in particular payment and invoice data held by Apple or by the payment service provider.
19.10 The legal bases and the full retention periods are set out in the Privacy Policy. The right to erasure under Art. 17 GDPR remains unaffected; this section describes how we give effect to it.
20.1 We are liable without limitation for damage arising from injury to life, body or health, and in cases of intent and gross negligence.
20.2 In cases of slight negligence, we are liable only for breaches of material contractual obligations, and limited in amount to the damage typically foreseeable for this type of contract.
20.3 Vis-à-vis artists acting in a commercial capacity, liability for slight negligence is excluded. Liability for lost profits, consequential damage and indirect damage is excluded vis-à-vis entrepreneurs. Vis-à-vis entrepreneurs, liability is limited in amount to the fees paid in the twelve months preceding the damaging event.
20.4 The limitations under 20.2 and 20.3 do not apply vis-à-vis consumers insofar as they are incompatible with mandatory provisions of the KSchG.
20.5 We are not liable for user content, for the conduct of users among themselves, or for artists' services (see section 6).
20.6 Liability for loss of data exists only insofar as the user has complied with their obligation under section 17.3, and is limited to the effort of restoring the data from existing backups.
21.1 We may amend these Terms where this is necessary for legal or technical reasons or because of a change in the scope of services.
21.2 Amendments will be communicated by e-mail at least six weeks before they take effect. The notification will include a reference to the amended provisions and to the significance of remaining silent.
21.3 If a user does not object before the amendments take effect, the amended Terms are deemed to have been accepted. If the user objects, the contract ends when the amendment takes effect; fees already paid in advance will be refunded on a pro-rata basis.
22.1 Austrian law applies, excluding the conflict-of-law rules of private international law and the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Vis-à-vis consumers, this choice of law applies only insofar as it does not deprive the consumer of the protection afforded by mandatory provisions of the law of the state in which the consumer has their habitual residence.
22.2 For disputes with entrepreneurs, the court with subject-matter jurisdiction for 1210 Vienna has exclusive jurisdiction. For consumers, the statutory places of jurisdiction apply; in particular, a consumer domiciled in Austria may only be sued at one of the places of jurisdiction listed in § 14 KSchG.
22.3 We are not obliged and are generally not willing to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.
22.4 Should any provision of these Terms be or become invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions remains unaffected. Vis-à-vis entrepreneurs, the invalid provision is replaced by a valid provision that comes closest to its economic purpose.
22.5 The processing of personal data is governed by the Privacy Policy.
23.1 Needl is an online intermediation service within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2019/1150 on promoting fairness and transparency for business users of online intermediation services (the "P2B Regulation"). This section provides the additional information that Regulation requires for artists as business users, and supplements rather than replaces the other provisions of these Terms.
23.2 Ranking. The artist search shows only approved, published and unrestricted profiles (sections 4, 12.2). Within that result set, we sort by default by publication date, most recent first; results can alternatively be sorted alphabetically by display name. Users can further filter results by search term and tattoo style. No paid, algorithmic or other preferential treatment of individual profiles occurs within these sort orders.
23.3 Differentiated treatment. Needl does not itself offer tattooing services and does not give any artist a preferential ranking, separate visibility, or any other preferential treatment that is not equally available to other artists through the same parameters described in 23.2.
23.4 Access to data. Within a request, the artist gets access to the data the client has provided: name or display name, email address, the shared tattoo idea including images and notes, the message history, and proposed appointment times. The artist does not get access to any other account data of the client, in particular not their payment data, other ideas, or other bookings. Conversely, a client sees the data the artist has entered as their public profile (section 3.8 of the Privacy Policy); they do not get any further access to the artist's account data.
23.5 Restriction, suspension and termination. The conditions and procedure for a warning, feature restriction, temporary suspension or termination by Needl are set out in section 18, including the 30-day advance-notice period under 18.6 for a full termination.
23.6 Complaint handling and mediation. As a micro-enterprise within the meaning of Recommendation 2003/361/EC, Needl is exempt from the obligation to operate a separate internal complaint-handling system (Art. 11 P2B Regulation) and to name mediators (Art. 12 P2B Regulation). The right to object under section 16.4 or 18.3 remains available to artists regardless.
If you wish to withdraw from the contract under section 10, you can fill in this form and send it to us — this is not mandatory, an informal statement under section 10.2 is equally sufficient.
To:
Jona Sebastian Schedelberger
Töllergasse 3/3/22
1210 Vienna, Austria
Email: team@needl.at
Version: September 25, 2026