a3c End User License Agreement
Version of 27 September 2026. Applies to the a3c app for macOS, version 1.0.1 and later.
Key points. This summary is for convenience only. The full text below is legally binding.
- a3c reads data from a vehicle's control units and can change it: codings, adaptations, datasets, memory bytes, service procedures.
- Any write to a control unit can impair the vehicle. Backup, verification and rollback reduce this risk but do not remove it.
- The Safety Rules are a mandatory part of this Agreement. Follow them before every write.
- Only work on your own vehicle or with the owner's consent, and comply with the laws of your country.
- Functions not verified on a car are experimental.
- The Developer's liability is limited to the extent the law permits. Consumer rights that the law does not allow to be limited remain unaffected.
1. Parties and definitions
1.1. Developer (licensor) — Sergei Pavlov, private individual, address: {{OPERATOR_ADDRESS}}. "The Boring Developers" is the name under which the Developer publishes apps. It is not a legal entity.
1.2. User (licensee, "you") — the person who has accepted this Agreement. Consumer — a User who is a natural person using the App for personal, family or household purposes unrelated to business.
1.3. App — the a3c computer program for macOS: the built-in diagnostic engine, the interface, the Catalogue, documentation and updates.
1.4. Catalogue — the database of ready-made functions included in the App: descriptions, values to be written, conditions of use and verification statuses.
1.5. Write — any action of the App that changes data in a vehicle control unit. This covers codings, adaptations, datasets (for example, the MMI language), memory bytes in a developer session with an access code (login), service interval resets, service procedures (for example, DSG DQ200 clutch adaptation), clearing fault codes, and rolling back changes.
1.6. a3c Pro — an auto-renewable App Store subscription. It unlocks the functions marked as Pro in the App and on the App Store page.
1.7. Rules — the a3c Safety Rules published in the App and at https://a3c.resaleapp.ru. The Rules are an integral part of this Agreement.
1.8. Vehicle — the vehicle to which you connect the App. Adapter — the OBD adapter, DoIP cable or CAN adapter through which the App communicates with the Vehicle. Third-Party Services — services and software of third parties, including SFD token providers, dealers and garages.
2. Conclusion of the Agreement
2.1. This Agreement is a licence agreement granting a simple (non-exclusive) licence to a computer program. It is concluded in a simplified procedure by accession (Art. 1236, Art. 1286(5), Art. 428 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation). The written form is deemed observed.
2.2. You accept this Agreement when you tap "Accept" or another button in the App expressing consent. If no consent screen was shown, the start of use counts as acceptance — the first launch of the App after you were given the opportunity to read this Agreement. Acceptance means you agree to all terms of this Agreement.
2.3. If you do not agree with this Agreement, do not use the App and delete it.
2.4. You confirm that you are at least 18 years old and have full legal capacity. If you accept on behalf of an organisation, you confirm that you are authorised to act for it.
2.5. How personal data is processed is described in the Privacy Policy (https://a3c.resaleapp.ru). The Privacy Policy is an information notice and does not form part of this Agreement.
3. Licence
3.1. The Developer grants you a simple (non-exclusive), non-transferable, non-sublicensable licence. You may use the App on Apple computers running macOS that you own or control, as permitted by the Usage Rules set forth in the Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions. Where the purchase supports Family Sharing, accounts linked to yours may also use the App.
3.2. Permitted uses:
- reproduction — installing the App and storing it in the computer's memory;
- running and using the App for its intended purpose: reading control-unit data and, within the functions available to you, Writing;
- receiving updates of the App and the Catalogue.
3.3. Territory — worldwide, subject to clause 13.7.
3.4. This Agreement is effective from acceptance for the term of the exclusive right in the App, unless terminated earlier (section 14). The right to Pro functions lasts for the paid subscription period.
3.5. Free functions are provided free of charge (Art. 1235(5), Art. 1286(5) of the Russian Civil Code). Pro functions are provided for a fee. The fee is the subscription price shown by the App Store before payment. Payment is processed by Apple (section 5).
3.6. Except where expressly permitted by law (including Art. 1280 of the Russian Civil Code) or by open-source licences (clause 10.3), you may not:
- (a) copy the App, except for copies needed for it to run and an archival copy;
- (b) decompile or disassemble the App or otherwise reconstruct its source code, except in the cases and to the extent provided by Art. 1280(2)–(3) of the Russian Civil Code and, for users in the EU, Articles 5 and 6 of Directive 2009/24/EC;
- (c) modify the App or circumvent the subscription check and other access restrictions;
- (d) distribute, sell or rent out the App or the Catalogue; extract all or a substantial part of the Catalogue to distribute it or to build another database;
- (e) use the App to circumvent technical protection measures, including SFD, without valid authorisation;
- (f) use the App to alter odometer readings, interfere with the immobiliser and anti-theft systems, airbags and other passive-safety systems, or to make changes prohibited by the law of the country where the Vehicle is operated. The App is not intended for such purposes.
3.7. Rights not expressly granted by this Agreement are not granted (Art. 1235(1) of the Russian Civil Code).
4. App, Catalogue and Third-Party Services
4.1. The App connects to Volkswagen Group vehicles on the MQB and MQB Evo platforms via Adapters: ELM327 over Bluetooth LE, Wi‑Fi and USB, DoIP cable (Ethernet), CAN adapters. Compatibility with a particular Vehicle, control unit, its software version and Adapter is not guaranteed.
4.2. Before a Write, the App shows warnings and the changes, asks for confirmation and saves a backup of the current value. After a Write, the App reads the value back to verify it. Rollback is performed from the operation history. These safeguards reduce the risk but do not remove it. Rollback is not always possible — for example, if the control unit does not respond, the backup has been deleted or the unit has been reprogrammed.
4.3. Catalogue function statuses:
- "Verified on the car" — the Write has been performed on at least one car. The result on your Vehicle is not guaranteed: equipment and control-unit software versions differ.
- "Map found" ("map known"), "MQB map, unverified", "with a caveat" and any other status showing that the function has not been written on a car or was verified with reservations — experimental functions. You apply them at your own risk after your own assessment.
- "Read-only" — the function writes nothing.
Functions with the statuses "needs research" and "unavailable" cannot be applied as ready-made functions. Any status other than "Verified on the car" means the function has not been verified on a car without reservations.
4.4. From version 1.1.0, the Catalogue is updated from the Developer's server as a file signed with the Developer's key. The Developer may add and correct functions, change their statuses, restrict or disable them for valid reasons: safety of people and vehicles, errors, compatibility, requirements of law, of Apple or of rights holders. The Developer is not obliged to maintain any individual function indefinitely.
4.5. SFD. Writing to control units protected by SFD requires a token. You obtain it yourself from third parties — for example, via OBDeleven, from a specialist with ODIS access or at a service centre. The Developer does not sell, issue or generate tokens and does not circumvent SFD. The Developer is not responsible for the availability, price or validity of tokens, or for the terms of their providers.
4.6. Demo mode works with a simulator and does not connect to a vehicle. A result in demo mode does not mean the same result on the Vehicle.
4.7. The Developer neither controls nor is responsible for:
- Adapters, cables and chargers;
- control-unit software;
- Third-Party Services;
- third-party software that you connect to the App, including AI assistants.
Commands executed by such software through the App on your behalf, including confirming a Write, are deemed your own actions.
5. a3c Pro subscription
5.1. a3c Pro is purchased in the App Store for one month or one year. The price, term and scope of the subscription are shown before purchase.
5.2. Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. The price of the next period is charged within 24 hours before the end of the current one. If a free trial is offered, its terms are shown before you subscribe.
5.3. You can manage and cancel the subscription in your App Store account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the paid period; until then Pro functions remain available. Deleting the App does not cancel the subscription.
5.4. Refunds for App Store purchases are handled by Apple under its own rules. The Developer cannot refund such a payment itself. This does not limit rights granted to consumers by law.
5.5. If you obtained access other than through the App Store (for example, a separate build for Russia), payment, refunds and access are governed by the offer on the purchase page at https://a3c.resaleapp.ru. Section 13 does not apply to such a build.
5.6. During a paid period, the set of Pro functions is not reduced except in the cases of clauses 4.4 and 7.1. If such a change materially impairs Pro for a consumer, the consumer may cancel the subscription and claim what the law provides.
6. Your obligations
6.1. Follow the Rules. The Rules are the established rules of use of the App within the meaning of Art. 1098 of the Russian Civil Code and Art. 7(3) and Art. 14(5) of the Russian Consumer Protection Law.
6.2. Perform Writes only on your own Vehicle or with the express consent of its owner. If the vehicle is leased, rented or pledged, take the terms of those contracts into account.
6.3. Before every Write, assess on your own the function's status, description, warnings and suitability for your Vehicle. Do not write changes you do not understand.
6.4. Keep backups and the operation history, and copy them to separate storage where needed.
6.5. Comply with the laws of the country where the Vehicle is operated: road traffic rules and requirements for technical condition, roadworthiness inspection and modification of the vehicle. Do not apply a change that makes operating the Vehicle unlawful, or restore the original value before driving on the road.
6.6. Use a working, compatible Adapter and a stable power supply.
6.7. Comply with applicable third-party terms when using the App: those of Apple, token and Adapter providers, network operators, lessors and the Vehicle manufacturer.
6.8. Do not use the App for unlawful purposes or for the purposes listed in clause 3.6.
6.9. Compensate the Developer for losses arising from third-party claims, including claims of the Vehicle owner, if they are caused by your culpable breach of this Agreement or the law.
7. Changes to the App, the Catalogue and this Agreement
7.1. The Developer may release updates and change, add or remove functions for valid reasons: safety, bug fixes, compatibility, changes by vehicle manufacturers and Apple, legal requirements. Such changes are made at no additional cost.
7.2. If you are a consumer in the EU and a change beyond what is necessary to maintain conformity impairs your access to or use of the App more than negligibly, the Developer will notify you in advance. You may terminate this Agreement free of charge within 30 days (Art. 19 of Directive (EU) 2019/770).
7.3. The Developer may change this Agreement or the Rules by publishing a new version at https://a3c.resaleapp.ru and notifying you in the App at least 30 days before it takes effect. Changes required by law or safety, and changes solely in your favour, may take effect without this notice period.
7.4. A new version applies to you once you accept it in the App. For free functions, continued use after the new version takes effect also counts as acceptance — except for consumers in the EU, for whom a new version applies only after express acceptance. Until the end of a paid Pro period, the terms accepted at payment continue to apply unless the new version improves your position or is required by law. If you do not agree with a new version, stop using the App and turn off auto-renewal.
8. Warranties
8.1. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the App and the Catalogue are provided "as is" and "as available", and the Developer disclaims all other warranties, express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The Developer does not warrant that:
- the App is compatible with your Vehicle, control unit, software version or Adapter;
- a Write will produce the expected result and a rollback will be possible;
- the App and the Catalogue server will operate without errors or interruptions;
- changes comply with the laws of your country and roadworthiness requirements;
- changes will not affect the manufacturer's warranty.
8.2. You understand and accept the risks of Writing:
- a control unit may stop working or require recovery at a dealer ("bricking");
- faults and warning lights may appear on the instrument cluster, and the battery may be drained;
- the manufacturer or dealer may refuse warranty repair of related defects;
- the Vehicle may cease to comply with road traffic rules and roadworthiness requirements — for example, when daytime running lights (DRL) or warnings are disabled or lighting behaviour is changed;
- Vehicle functions may work incorrectly;
- experimental Catalogue functions ("map found") have not been tested on the specific car and may not work as described;
- a communication or power failure during a Write may leave the control unit in an incorrect state;
- an unsuitable Adapter or an ELM327 clone may corrupt or interrupt data exchange.
8.3. Clause 8.1 does not limit warranties that the law mandatorily grants to consumers, including the conformity requirements for digital content in the EU (Directive (EU) 2019/770). Warranties that are not lawfully disclaimed are the responsibility of the Developer, not Apple (clause 13.4). Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so some of the above exclusions may not apply to you.
9. Liability
9.1. General principle. The Developer is liable for breach of this Agreement within the limits set by law and by this section. Clauses 9.3 and 9.4 apply only to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to clauses 9.5–9.7.
9.2. Circumstances for which the Developer is not liable. The Developer is not liable for harm or loss to the extent caused by:
- (a) a breach of the Rules or of this Agreement;
- (b) the Adapter, a cable, a charger, a computer or other equipment, its defect or incompatibility, including ELM327 clones;
- (c) SFD tokens and other Third-Party Services, including an invalid or revoked token;
- (d) acts of dealers, garages and the Vehicle manufacturer, including control-unit software updates, re-coding and refusal of warranty;
- (e) changes that you applied knowing, or having reason to know, that they are prohibited by law;
- (f) the use of an experimental function (clause 4.3) — to the extent the harm results from a risk you were warned about before the Write;
- (g) force majeure, failures of communication networks and of Apple services.
If harm is caused both by a defect of the App and by any of the above circumstances, liability is apportioned according to each party's fault (Art. 404 and 1083 of the Russian Civil Code).
9.3. Cap. Where permitted, the Developer's total liability is limited to the amount you paid for the App and the a3c Pro subscription in the 12 months before the event giving rise to liability.
9.4. Indirect loss. Where permitted, the Developer does not compensate lost profits, loss of use of the Vehicle, towing and replacement-vehicle costs, or other indirect or consequential loss.
9.5. What is not limited. Nothing in this Agreement excludes or limits the Developer's liability:
- (a) for intentional breach (Art. 401(4) of the Russian Civil Code), and for gross negligence where applicable law prohibits limiting it;
- (b) for death or personal injury;
- (c) for fraud and wilful concealment of defects;
- (d) under mandatory product liability rules;
- (e) to the extent of consumer rights that cannot be waived by law.
9.6. Consumers in Russia. If the Russian Consumer Protection Law applies, terms of this Agreement that limit consumer rights beyond what the law provides do not apply (Art. 16 of that Law, Art. 400(2) of the Russian Civil Code). The exemption from liability where established rules of use were breached (Art. 1098 of the Russian Civil Code, Art. 14(5) of that Law) remains in force.
9.7. Consumers in the EU and the EEA, including Germany. Instead of clauses 9.3 and 9.4, only the following rules apply:
- (a) the Developer is liable without limitation for injury to life, body or health, for intent and gross negligence, for fraudulent concealment of a defect, within the scope of any guarantee given, and under the Product Liability Act (Produkthaftungsgesetz) as amended from time to time — including the provisions implementing Directive (EU) 2024/2853 for products placed on the market after 9 December 2026;
- (b) in the event of slight negligence, the Developer is liable only for breach of essential contractual obligations (Kardinalpflichten), and only up to the damage that was foreseeable when the contract was concluded and is typical for this type of contract. Essential obligations are those whose fulfilment makes the proper performance of the contract possible in the first place and on whose fulfilment you may regularly rely;
- (c) in all other cases, liability for slight negligence is excluded;
- (d) your statutory rights in respect of defects in digital products (Directive (EU) 2019/770; §§ 327 et seq. BGB) remain unaffected;
- (e) your own fault, including a breach of the Rules, is taken into account as contributory fault (§ 254 BGB; Art. 13(2) of Directive (EU) 2024/2853);
- (f) the limitations in this clause also apply in favour of persons engaged by the Developer to perform this Agreement.
10. Intellectual property and open-source components
10.1. The exclusive right in the App and the Catalogue belongs to the Developer, except for third-party open-source components.
10.2. If a third party claims that the App or your possession and use of it infringes that third party's intellectual property rights, the Developer, not Apple, is solely responsible for investigating, defending, settling and discharging the claim.
10.3. Open-source components are used under their own licences. The list of components and the licence texts are provided in the App and at https://a3c.resaleapp.ru. For each such component, its licence prevails over this Agreement. For components under LGPL‑3.0 (including python-can), this Agreement does not prohibit modifying those components for your own use, replacing them with modified versions, or reverse engineering for debugging such modifications. The restrictions in clause 3.6 do not apply to these rights.
11. Trademarks and independence
11.1. Audi, A3, Volkswagen, VW, Škoda, SEAT, CUPRA, ODIS, OBDeleven, Apple, Mac, macOS, App Store and other names mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners. The App and its documents use them only to indicate compatibility.
11.2. a3c is an independent app. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by AUDI AG, Volkswagen AG or other Volkswagen Group companies.
12. Support
12.1. Support is provided by the Developer by email at thebordev@gmail.com within a reasonable time.
12.2. Support means advice on using the App. It does not include repair or recovery of the Vehicle, on-site visits or paying for dealer work.
13. App obtained from the App Store: Apple terms
13.1. This Agreement is concluded between you and the Developer only, and not with Apple. The Developer, not Apple, is solely responsible for the App and its content. This Agreement does not provide for usage rules that conflict with the Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions.
13.2. The scope of the licence is set out in clause 3.1.
13.3. The Developer is solely responsible for providing maintenance and support for the App, as specified in section 12 or as required by applicable law. Apple has no obligation whatsoever to furnish any maintenance and support services with respect to the App.
13.4. The Developer is solely responsible for any product warranties, whether express or implied by law, to the extent not effectively disclaimed. If the App fails to conform to any applicable warranty, you may notify Apple, and Apple will refund the purchase price of the App to you. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Apple has no other warranty obligation whatsoever with respect to the App. Any other claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses attributable to a failure to conform to a warranty are the Developer's responsibility within the limits of this Agreement and the law.
13.5. The Developer, not Apple, is responsible for addressing any claims by you or any third party relating to the App or your possession and/or use of it, including: (i) product liability claims; (ii) any claim that the App fails to conform to any applicable legal or regulatory requirement; and (iii) claims arising under consumer protection, privacy or similar legislation.
13.6. Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement are handled as set out in clause 10.2.
13.7. You represent and warrant that: (i) you are not located in a country that is subject to a U.S. Government embargo or that has been designated by the U.S. Government as a "terrorist supporting" country; and (ii) you are not listed on any U.S. Government list of prohibited or restricted parties. You also comply with the export control and sanctions laws that apply to you.
13.8. Please direct any questions, complaints or claims about the App to the Developer using the contact details in section 17.
13.9. When using the App, you must comply with applicable third-party terms of agreement (clause 6.7) — for example, the terms of an SFD token provider or an Adapter manufacturer.
13.10. Apple and Apple's subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement (Art. 430 of the Russian Civil Code). Upon your acceptance of this Agreement, Apple will have the right (and will be deemed to have accepted the right) to enforce it against you as a third-party beneficiary.
14. Termination
14.1. You may terminate this Agreement at any time by deleting the App. The subscription must be cancelled separately in the App Store (clause 5.3).
14.2. The Developer may withdraw from this Agreement or suspend access to functions in the cases and in the manner provided by law, including where you use the App beyond the scope of the licence (clause 3.6).
14.3. After termination, stop using the App and delete it. Local data remains on your Mac. Sections 8–11, 15 and 16, and provisions that by their nature are intended to continue, survive termination.
14.4. If the Developer shuts down the Catalogue server, the App will continue to work with the last received Catalogue; new functions may then become unavailable. If the Developer stops offering a3c Pro, no further charges are made. Consumer rights to a refund for an unused period are governed by Apple's rules and the law.
15. Governing law and disputes
15.1. This Agreement is governed by the law of the Russian Federation.
15.2. If you are a consumer living in another country, this choice of law does not deprive you of the protection afforded by the mandatory provisions of the law of your country of residence (Art. 1212 of the Russian Civil Code; Art. 6 of Regulation (EC) No 593/2008, "Rome I").
15.3. Pre-trial procedure. A User who is not a consumer must send the Developer a written claim before going to court. The response period is 30 days. We recommend that consumers contact support first — this is usually faster — but it is not mandatory.
15.4. Jurisdiction. A consumer may bring proceedings in the courts determined by law: in Russia, at the consumer's choice (Art. 17 of the Russian Consumer Protection Law, Art. 29 of the Russian Code of Civil Procedure); in the EU, including the courts of the consumer's place of domicile (Art. 18 of Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012). Other disputes are heard by the court at the Developer's place of residence unless the law provides for different jurisdiction.
15.5. The Developer does not take part in, and is not obliged to take part in, dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.
16. Final provisions
16.1. Severability. If any term of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms continue in effect.
16.2. Languages. This Agreement is made in Russian, English and German. In case of discrepancies, the Russian version prevails for users in Russia and the English version for all other users, unless local law requires otherwise.
16.3. Assignment. You may not transfer your rights and obligations under this Agreement without the Developer's consent. The Developer may transfer them to a successor who will continue to support the App, in the manner provided by law, and will notify you.
16.4. Notices are given through the App, at https://a3c.resaleapp.ru, and — if you have contacted support — by email.
16.5. Entire agreement. This Agreement together with the Rules is the entire agreement between the parties regarding the App. The Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions apply alongside it with respect to the App Store.
17. Developer contact details
- Developer: Sergei Pavlov, private individual
- Address for correspondence and claims: {{OPERATOR_ADDRESS}}
- Telephone: {{OPERATOR_PHONE}}
- Email: thebordev@gmail.com
- Website: https://a3c.resaleapp.ru