Terms of Service

Last updated: September 16, 2026

These Terms of Service (the “Terms”) apply to your use of build-mode-ak.com (the “Site”). The Site is run by Anton Kovalenko, the creator of the Build Mode YouTube channel (“Build Mode”, “we”, “us”, “our”). By using the Site, you agree to these Terms. If you don’t agree, please don’t use the Site.

About the Site

Build Mode is about making things yourself: DIY electronics, microcontrollers, circuit design and 3D printing. The Site publishes news, articles and project pages with part lists, schematics, firmware and files for printing. It accompanies our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@build-mode-ak.

The Site doesn’t offer user accounts. You can read it, download files, write to us through the contact form and, where comments are open, leave a comment.

YouTube Terms of Service

The Site uses YouTube API Services, including the YouTube embedded player. By using the Site, including watching the YouTube videos embedded on it, you agree to be bound by the YouTube Terms of Service.

How Google handles your data is described in the Google Privacy Policy. How we handle it is described in our Privacy Policy.

Safety first

Our projects involve electricity, heat, chemicals and tools. If something goes wrong, building them can cause injury, fire or damage to property. Before you start:

• never work on mains voltage (110–240 V) unless you are qualified to, and disconnect power before you touch a circuit;
• handle lithium batteries with care: a short circuit, overcharging or physical damage can set them on fire;
• solder in a ventilated area, protect your eyes and keep hot tools away from anything flammable;
• follow the safety instructions for your 3D printer, power supplies and tools, and don’t leave them running unattended;
• check every component against its datasheet, and make sure your build complies with local laws, such as the rules for radio transmitters and electrical safety;
• if you are under 18, build only under an adult’s supervision.

We share our builds for education and entertainment. They are not professional engineering advice, and the devices we show are prototypes that have not been tested or certified (for example, for CE, FCC or UL). You build and use them at your own risk.

Content and licenses

Unless a page or a file says otherwise, all content on the Site, including text, photos, illustrations, videos, 3D models, schematics, circuit board files and code, is © Anton Kovalenko (Build Mode).

You may:

• read and watch the content and download the project files;
• build the projects and modify the files for your own personal, non-commercial use;
• link to our pages and quote short excerpts, as long as you name Build Mode and link to the source.

Without our written permission, you may not:

• sell the files, or devices, kits or prints made from them;
• upload or distribute the files, or substantial parts of our text and images, elsewhere, including other websites and model repositories;
• present our work as your own.

If a project states its own license, for example an open-source license in its files or on its page, that license applies to that project instead of this section. Third-party libraries, datasheets and other materials we link to remain subject to their owners’ licenses. To ask for permission, email mail@build-mode-ak.com.

Downloads

Files are provided “as is”. Check them before you print, flash or build anything: a model may need adjusting for your printer, and firmware may need changes for your board. We may update, replace or remove files at any time and can’t guarantee that a file will stay available.

Your conduct

When you write to us or leave a comment, don’t post anything unlawful, abusive, hateful or misleading, spam or advertising, other people’s personal information, or malicious code. We may moderate, edit or delete comments and block abusive senders at our discretion.

By posting a comment, you allow us to publish it on the Site and keep it there. You remain responsible for what you post.

Links, recommendations and donations

The Site links to other websites, stores and services that we don’t control, and we are not responsible for their content, products or practices. Mentioning a product doesn’t mean we endorse it unless we say so. Some links to stores may be affiliate links: if you buy through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We say so wherever we use such links.

If you choose to support Build Mode with a donation, the payment is handled by a third-party platform under its own terms. Donations are voluntary gifts: they don’t buy goods, services or special access, and refunds follow the platform’s rules and the applicable law.

Trademarks

Product and company names mentioned on the Site, such as Arduino, Espressif, ESP32, LILYGO and YouTube, are trademarks of their respective owners. YouTube is a trademark of Google LLC. Build Mode is not affiliated with or endorsed by these companies unless we say so.

Disclaimer of warranties

The Site and everything on it are provided “as is” and “as available”. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we make no warranties of any kind, express or implied. In particular, we don’t promise that the content is accurate, complete or error-free, that a project will work for you, or that the Site will be available without interruption or free of harmful code.

Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Build Mode is not liable for any indirect, incidental or consequential damages, or for any injury, damage to property, or loss of data or profits that results from using the Site or from building, using or relying on any project, file or information published on it.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded or limited by law, and nothing in them affects your statutory rights as a consumer.

Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The date at the top shows when they were last updated. If you keep using the Site after a change, you accept the updated Terms.

Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Ukraine. If you use the Site as a consumer, you also keep the protection of the mandatory laws of the country where you live, and you may bring a claim in the courts of that country.

Contact

If you have questions about these Terms, email mail@build-mode-ak.com or use our contact form.