Intellectual Property Policy

This Intellectual Property Policy sets out the principles governing the ownership, registration, use, and protection of intellectual property on DCI.wiki. It applies to all users, including research institutions, universities, governments, publishers, museums, news organizations, artists, musicians, and content creators.

By using DCI.WIKI, you agree to respect intellectual property rights and follow the guidelines outlined in this policy.

1. Introduction

DCI.WIKI is committed to protecting intellectual property rights while maintaining transparency and authenticity in digital content identification. This policy balances the rights of creators with the platform's mission to serve researchers, institutions, and the global community.

2. Ownership of Content

2.1. User-Owned Content:

• You retain all rights to your original works that you register or associate with a DCI
• Registering a work with DCI does not transfer or assign ownership to DCI
• You are solely responsible for ensuring you have the necessary rights or permissions to register content

2.2. DCI-Owned Intellectual Property:

• All trademarks, service marks, logos, database structures, algorithms, software, and branding used by DCI are proprietary to DCI
• You may not copy, modify, distribute, or reverse-engineer any DCI property without prior written consent

3. Grant of License to DCI

3.1. By registering or submitting identifiers, you grant DCI a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to:

• Store, display, index, and distribute identifiers and metadata to operate the Service
• Use public identifiers for educational, promotional, or research purposes consistent with DCI's mission of transparency and authenticity

3.2. This license does not give DCI ownership of your work or the right to sell, reproduce, or license your content outside the scope of the Service.

4. Use of Third-Party Content

• 4.1. You may not register works or metadata that infringe on third-party intellectual property rights
• 4.2. If you use third-party material (e.g., quotes, images, audio), you must have permission or fall under a lawful exception (e.g., fair use)
• 4.3. DCI may remove content reported as infringing and may suspend repeat offenders

5. Attribution and Citation

5.1. Users citing content via DCI identifiers must provide proper attribution, including author, title, identifier, and other metadata required by DCI's citation guidelines.

5.2. Misrepresentation of attribution or deliberate falsification of metadata is prohibited and may result in account suspension.

6. Copyright Compliance and DMCA

6.1. DCI complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and equivalent international frameworks.

6.2. Copyright owners can submit takedown notices including:

• Identification of the copyrighted work
• Location of the allegedly infringing content
• Contact information and a good-faith statement
• Electronic or physical signature of the copyright owner

6.3. Users may submit counter-notices if they believe content was removed in error, following the standard DMCA counter-notice procedure.

7. Trademark Use

7.1. You may not use DCI's trademarks or branding in a manner that implies endorsement without written permission.

7.2. Reference to DCI for descriptive or academic purposes (e.g., "DCI identifier for journal articles") is permitted with proper context and attribution.

8. Registry Transparency

8.1. DCI may display version histories and audit logs for identifiers to ensure provenance and accountability.

8.2. Sensitive metadata may be redacted upon verified institutional or legal request, balancing transparency with privacy requirements.

9. Enforcement and Violations

9.1. DCI reserves the right to:

• Remove or disable access to infringing content
• Suspend or terminate repeat infringers' accounts
• Cooperate with rights holders and law enforcement
• Take appropriate legal action when necessary

9.2. Users are responsible for indemnifying DCI against claims arising from their intellectual property violations.

10. Dispute Resolution

10.1. DCI encourages parties to resolve intellectual property disputes amicably through direct communication when possible.

10.2. If disputes cannot be resolved directly, they will be handled under the governing law and dispute resolution procedures outlined in DCI's Terms of Service.

11. Changes to This Policy

11.1. DCI may update this Policy periodically to reflect changes in law, technology, or business practices. Material changes will be communicated via email or posted on our website.

11.2. Continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.

12. Reporting Infringement

If you believe your intellectual property rights have been violated, you can:

• Submit a DMCA takedown notice to [email protected]
• Use our online reporting form (when available)
• Contact our legal team for complex cases
• Provide detailed information to expedite the review process