Terms of Use of BBC Online Services
These terms were last updated on 10th January 2011
1.1 Why should I read these Terms of Use?
These terms of use ("Terms of Use") tell you how you may use BBC Online Services to access, view and/or listen to BBC Content for your personal and non-business use so please read them carefully.
Additional terms which vary or supplement these Terms of Use may apply to your access of some BBC Online Services ("Additional Terms"). If so, these Additional terms will be set out at the point of access to the relevant BBC Online Services. If there is any inconsistency between the Additional Terms for a particular BBC Online Service and the Terms of Use, the Additional Terms will prevail. These Terms of Use and any Additional Terms are collectively referred to as "Terms". The BBC may update the Terms from time to time so please review the relevant pages regularly. If you access BBC Online Services, you agree to be legally bound by whichever version of the Terms is in force at such time.
These Terms of Use apply solely to non-business users of BBC Online Services. If you are accessing and/or using BBC Online Services in a business capacity, please read the Terms of Use of BBC Online Services for Business Users.
1.2 Who makes BBC Online Services available to me and what should I do if I have questions, comments, complaints or enquiries?
BBC Online Services are made available to you by the British Broadcasting Corporation of Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, W1A 1AA (the "BBC").
Any reference in the Terms to "you" or "your" means you as a non-business user of BBC Online Services.
If you have any questions about the Terms or your use of BBC Online Services then you may find the answer at the BBC Help page or the Frequently Asked Questions. If you cannot find the answer there, or if you have any comments or complaints about BBC Online Services, you can contact the BBC.
If you receive any enquiries which relate to the BBC, any BBC Online Service and/or BBC Content, you should promptly refer such enquiries to the BBC.
If you think that BBC Content and/or any BBC Online Service should not be appearing on a website, blog or service then please contact us. Contact us about BBC News content or contact us about any other content.
1.3 Should I read any other information or terms?
Please also read the BBC's Privacy and Cookies Policy, which explains how the BBC uses any information about you that it receives. The Privacy and Cookies Policy form part of the Terms. If there is any inconsistency between the Privacy and Cookies Policy and the Terms, the Terms will prevail.
Some BBC services may ask you to agree to Additional Terms or other terms of use which will apply to your use of that particular service.
2.1 In the Terms:
"BBC Online Service(s)" are any BBC or other BBC-authorised internet services, websites, products and/or software applications that enable you to access, view and/or listen to BBC Content on compatible devices and are identified as "BBC Online Services" in Additional Terms. BBC Online Services include the website at bbc.co.uk, BBC iPlayer, BBC Embedded Media Player and BBC RSS Feeds.
"BBC Content" means audio, video, text, images or other content made available by the BBC to you through BBC Online Services and may sometimes include content which is owned or controlled by third parties which the BBC is permitted to make available to you through the relevant BBC Online Service.
2.2 Availability of BBC Content
BBC Content is selected, edited, updated and made available to you by the BBC through BBC Online Services at its sole discretion. The period of time during which you may access, view and/or listen to BBC Content using BBC Online Services may vary. This is usually because of agreements which the BBC has with owners of rights in parts of BBC Content.
2.3 BBC Editorial Control of BBC Content
You acknowledge that the BBC has absolute editorial control over all BBC Content at all times.
3.1 How you may use BBC Online Services
3.2 How you may NOT use BBC Online Services
3.4 Parental Guidance
Some BBC Online Services offer a BBC Parental Guidance tool to parents who are concerned about the suitability of BBC Content for young audiences. The BBC also offers child-friendly online services such as CBeebies iPlayer and CBBC Online Services. BBC Content may contain content you consider indecent, objectionable or offensive, or which may not be suitable for young audiences. If you permit a child to use your device to access, view or listen to BBC Content on BBC Online Services you are solely responsible for deciding whether or not that BBC Content is appropriate for that child to view. If you are concerned about the suitability of BBC Content you should look at the BBC's "guidance labelling" information prior to accessing (or allowing children to access) BBC Content and/or where appropriate use the BBC Parental Guidance tool. Please be aware that if you do not set up BBC Parental Guidance anyone using your device will be able to view all available BBC Content, including guidance-labelled programmes.
3.5 Accessibility
The BBC is committed to making its content accessible by as many people as possible so BBC Online Services follows the BBC Online Accessibility Standards.
4.1 Rights in BBC Online Services and BBC Content
All copyright, trade marks, design rights, patents and other intellectual property rights (registered and unregistered) in and on BBC Online Services and BBC Content belong to the BBC and/or third parties (which may include you or other users). The BBC reserves all of its rights in BBC Content and BBC Online Services. Nothing in the Terms grants you a right or licence to use any trade mark, design right or copyright owned or controlled by the BBC or any other third party except as expressly provided in the Terms.
4.2 Digital Rights Management
So that the BBC can meet its obligations to third parties who own rights in BBC Content, the BBC may embed digital rights management security in BBC Online Services or BBC Content and/or use other content-protection measures. You may not adjust or circumvent or try to adjust or circumvent these technical measures.
5.1 The BBC may invite you to make, share or submit your own, original contributions to BBC Online Services. These Terms of Use and any Additional Terms for particular BBC Online Services set out the rules governing how you may do so and how the BBC may use your contribution. Your contribution may include text, photographs, graphics, video or audio.
5.2 If you submit your contribution to the BBC you must allow the BBC to use the material in your contribution in any way it may reasonably choose on a free-of-charge basis in any media throughout the world. Any contributions you make may be moderated by the BBC which means they may be reviewed, edited and/or removed. The BBC reserves the right to remove any of your contributions if the BBC believes that they do not comply with the Terms.
5.3 You grant the BBC the right to change or edit the materials in your contribution for operational and editorial reasons. The BBC may also share your contribution with trusted third parties, for instance with other users of BBC Online Services or, in the case of news-related material, the BBC may share your contribution with its overseas partners (for instance reputable foreign news broadcasters).
5.4 Any copyright in your contribution will remain with you and this permission is not exclusive, so you can continue to use the material you contribute in any way including allowing others to use it.
5.5 You confirm that your contribution is your own original work, is not defamatory or unlawful and does not infringe anyone else's rights (including privacy rights) and that it complies with the Terms. You also confirm that your contribution is made in your personal (rather than business) capacity and that such contribution does not unfairly promote or further any business activities and has not been contributed for commercial gain. You also confirm that you have the consent of anyone who is identifiable in your contribution or the consent of their parent/guardian if they are under 16.
5.6 We normally show your name with your contribution, unless you request otherwise, but for operational reasons this is not always possible.
5.7 The BBC may need to contact you for administrative or verification purposes in relation to your contribution, or in relation to particular projects. For full details of when and how we may contact you please see the BBC's Privacy and Cookies Policy plus any specific local terms, where applicable.
5.8 Please do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or break any laws when creating any content you may share with the BBC.
5.9 As part of your contribution, the BBC may ask you to provide some personal information. Disclosure of this information shall be subject to terms set out in the BBC's Privacy and Cookies Policy. The BBC will keep your personal information secure and will only use it for the purposes specified in the Privacy and Cookies Policy. All personal information held by the BBC will be held in accordance with the terms of applicable data protection laws.
5.10 If you do not want to grant the BBC permission to use your contributions in accordance with the Terms, please do not share with or submit them to bbc.co.uk.
5.11 If you have any questions about contributing content to the BBC, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.
6.1 BBC Online Services and your device
You can use BBC Online Services on a variety of compatible devices. The Terms apply to your use of BBC Online Services on any device. BBC Online Services or some of the features and functionalities may not be available on all devices. The BBC makes no guarantee that all or any features of BBC Online Services will work on any particular device.
6.2 Interacting with BBC Online Services and other BBC Online Services users
If you interact with BBC Online Services and other users of BBC Online Services the BBC may need to use some of your personal information. Please read the Privacy and Cookies Policy to find out how the BBC may use your personal information.
6.3 Advertisements
International users may see advertisements on some BBC Online Services. These advertisements are provided and delivered by the BBC's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide Limited.
6.4 Links
BBC Online Services and/or BBC Content may contain hyperlinks to websites and resources owned and operated by third parties. These third party websites and resources have their own terms of use and we urge you to review them. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for any third party websites and resources and your access and use of such services and content is at your own risk.
7.1 Compliance with the Terms
You must comply with the Terms, in particular the General restrictions on how you may use BBC Online Services.
7.2 Expenses, equipment and software
You are solely responsible for paying all expenses you may incur when you access or use BBC Online Services or access or download BBC Content including your internet or data service provider charges and any excess charges to that provider if you have a limit on the amount of data you can download together with all costs of the equipment and software you need to connect to and use BBC Online Services. Accessing and using some BBC Online Services features to access, download, view or listen to BBC Content (especially video or audio) may lead to substantial bandwidth usage by you which can be expensive so you should be careful you do not exceed any 'bandwidth cap' on your account with your internet or data service provider. The BBC is not responsible if your equipment or software is not compatible with any BBC Online Service. BBC Content may be streamed or downloaded to your device from servers owned and operated by the BBC or (on behalf of the BBC) by third-party content distribution networks to enhance your experience when you watch or listen to BBC Content.
7.3 Managing your account details and activity
You are solely responsible for keeping your BBC account username and password (if you have them) confidential and you are responsible for all activity that occurs under your BBC account. Please see clause 6.2.1 for more information on BBC accounts and why you might want to create one.
You can read how the BBC uses your personal information in the BBC's Privacy and Cookies Policy which forms part of the Terms.
9.1 The basis on which BBC makes the BBC Online Services available to you
The BBC does not guarantee that all BBC Content and/or BBC Online Services will always be available or be uninterrupted, timely, secure or free from bugs, viruses, errors and omissions.
The BBC reserves its right to modify, suspend or discontinue all or part of any BBC Online Service or any part of the BBC Content without giving you any notice.
Any commentary, opinions or other materials included in BBC Content are not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely.
9.2 Types of loss or damage the BBC is not responsible for
The BBC is not responsible for the following kinds of loss or damage which may arise from your use of BBC Online Services:
Nothing in the Terms excludes or limits either the BBC's or your liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence or for fraud.
9.3 Your legal rights as a consumer
As a consumer, you may have certain legal rights regarding claims in respect of losses caused by the BBC's negligence or the failure by the BBC to carry out its obligations. Nothing in the Terms is intended to limit your legal rights as a consumer. For further information about your legal rights you can contact your local authority Trading Standards Department or Citizens Advice Bureau.
10.1 The BBC's right to stop making BBC Online Services available to you
The BBC reserves the right to stop making all or any part of the BBC Online Services available to you with immediate effect and without notice if:
10.2 What happens if the BBC stops making BBC Online Services available to me?
If the BBC stops making BBC Online Services available to you, you may be asked to delete all BBC Content downloaded by you to your device(s).
11.1 What happens if the BBC does not enforce a right against me?
If the BBC decides not to exercise or enforce any right that it has against you at a particular time, then this does not prevent the BBC from later deciding to exercise or enforce that right.
11.2 What happens if any part of the Terms is found to be ineffective?
If any part of the Terms is found to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by a court or regulator, then, where required, that part shall be deleted from the Terms and the remaining parts of the Terms will continue to be enforceable.
11.3 Third parties
The Terms do not create or infer any rights that are enforceable by any person who is not party to the Terms.
11.4 Transfer of rights
You may not assign, sub-license or otherwise transfer any of your rights and obligations in the Terms to any other person.
11.5 What happens if there is a dispute arising out of the Terms?
Any disputes arising out of the Terms will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales (or the laws of Scotland or Northern Ireland if you live there). If you choose to bring proceedings in connection with the Terms you must do so in the courts of England and Wales unless you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, in which case you can choose to bring proceedings there.
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