Web Investigations » Submission Guidelines

This policy explains how the “Web Investigations” feature of History Detective’s web site collects and uses information submitted by site visitors. We recognize the value of personal privacy and copyright protection and wish to protect your information and respect copyright holders’ rights. This “Web Investigations” feature is maintained and hosted as a collaboration between OPB, PBS and Lion Television (collectively, the “Producers”).

Content submitted by the public

The “Web Investigations” feature allows the public to participate in an online investigation of a historical object submitted by a viewer. Viewers can participate by contributing to weekly “Detective Tasks” posted on the Web Investigations site which address questions related to the investigation. The following types of viewer contributions are permitted:

• Viewers can submit original content in the form of an opinion, question, comment or information based on their personal experience or knowledge about the topic.
• Viewers can submit the results of the research they’ve done for the Detective Task. Viewers should follow our guidelines for contributing research.
• Viewers can submit a photo they have taken or an image of an object they own.

Submission and Usage Policy

You are responsible for the content of any information you submit to the “Web Investigations” feature of this web site. The Information posted on this feature does not necessarily reflect the views of the Producers and in no event shall the Producers assume or have any responsibility or liability for any information posted to this feature or for any claims, damages or losses resulting from the use and/or appearance of such information on this feature.

By clicking the “Submit” button on any submission form in the “Web Investigations” features of this web site, you affirm that your submission, including text, digital images and video, is original to you, that you hold all necessary rights to this work or have permission from the copyright holder, or the work is in the public domain or falls within “fair use” standards, and that the submission does not defame or otherwise violate the copyrights, trademarks, rights of publicity or privacy, or reputation of any third party.

You agree to indemnify and hold the Producers harmless against any claims asserted by any third parties that allege your submission violates their personal, artistic, moral, intellectual property, copyright, trademark or other rights, or from any breach by you of your promises in this agreement. You shall be responsible for any costs incurred by the Producers for defense or settlement of third- party claims, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees.

Under this agreement you will retain ownership of your submission. However, you hereby grant to the Producers and the Producers hereby accept a perpetual, royalty-free, nonexclusive worldwide license to reproduce, distribute, alter, edit, modify, build upon, transform, prepare derivative works of, display and perform such information in any and all media now known or hereinafter devised and to authorize others to exercise such rights. You further represent that you have all necessary rights in such posting.

You understand that submitting content does not guarantee that your work will be displayed on this web site. Viewer submissions that contain content including text, digital images and video that is not properly attributed or appears to violate a copyright holder’s rights will not be displayed on the site. The decision of which and how submission received through the History Detectives web site will be used will be at the sole discretion of OPB, PBS, and Lion Television. Producers shall have the right, in their sole discretion, to remove any viewer submitted content for any or no reason, including, but not limited to, violation of these submission guidelines.

Protecting your personal information

We collect personally-identifying information such as your name, location, and e-mail address on these pages only if you choose to provide that information to us. We ask you to provide this information when you contribute to the investigation via the commenting form. Please note, your name and location will be displayed on the History Detectives web site. In addition, your name and location may be displayed in connection with any use of your submission by the Producers. When submitting your name, you are advised to use a name that you want the public to see. E-mail addresses will only be used for administrative purposes by the Producers. Your E-mail address will not be shared or sold to a third party without first receiving your permission. If you do not want your personally-identifying information to be collected or used for any of these purposes, you can simply ‘opt out’ according to the process described below.

We also may disclose personal information if we believe that such action is necessary to (a) comply with the law or with legal process, (b) protect against misuse or unauthorized use of the web site, or (c) protect the personal safety or property of web site users, the public or the Producers.

Links to other sites

The “Web Investigations” feature may contain links to other sites that may not follow the same privacy policies as we do. These sites may use cookies, collect data, and use the data in ways that we would not. The Producers are not responsible for the privacy practices or any information or materials on these other sites.

Acceptance of the Submission & Usage Policy

By clicking the “Submit” button on any contribution form in the “Web Investigations” feature, you signify your acceptance of the terms spelled out in this agreement. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, please do not use this feature.

We reserve the right to change this policy at any time. Any changes to this policy will be posted to this page as soon as reasonably possible, so please check this page periodically. Use of these pages constitutes consent to any policy then in effect.

Disclaimer of warranties

THE “WEB INVESTIGATIONS” FEATURE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF TITLE, NONINFRINGEMENT, OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NEITHER THE PRODUCERS NOR THE PBS MEMBER STATIONS WARRANT THAT ANY INFORMATION IS COMPLETE OR ACCURATE, THAT THE HISTORY DETECTIVES WEB SITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE OR THAT ANY INFORMATION IS FREE OF ROGUE PROGRAMMING.

Limitation of damages

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, SHALL OPB , PBS, OR LION TELEVISION BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE “HISTORY DETECTIVES” WEB SITE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION USE OF OR RELIANCE ON INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE “VIEWERS SHARE THEIR STORIES” FEATURE, INTERRUPTIONS, ERRORS, DEFECTS, MISTAKES, OMISSIONS, DELETIONS OF FILES, DELAYS IN OPERATION OR TRANSMISSION, NONDELIVERY OF INFORMATION, DISCLOSURE OF COMMUNICATIONS, OR ANY OTHER FAILURE OF PERFORMANCE.

Release and indemnity

YOU HEREBY RELEASE AND WAIVE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AND/OR LIABILITY AGAINST THE PRODUCERS AND THE PBS MEMBER STATIONS ARISING FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF THE “WEB INVESTIGATIONS” FEATURE. YOU ALSO AGREE TO DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS, THE PRODUCERS AND THE PBS MEMBER STATIONS, FROM AND AGAINST, ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OR LIABILITY, INCLUDING COSTS AND ATTORNEYS FEES, ARISING FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF THIS FEATURE OR FAILURE TO ABIDE BY APPLICABLE LAW.

Questions, corrections to personal data and opting-out

If you have any questions or comments concerning this Submission & Usage Policy; would like to change, update or delete your personal information; or would like to opt-out of any future communications, please contact OPB.