Copyright Information

Definition: "Digital Media" refers to datasets and visualizations (which includes but is not limited to raw data, rendered data, label files, and pictures), video and motion picture recordings, photography, and audio recordings.

Use of Digital Media created by NOAA

General Digital Media Conditions

In general, digital media created by NOAA is not copyrighted.
Digital media created by NOAA can be used for educational or informational purposes, including photo collections, textbooks, public exhibits and Internet web pages.
Some digital media may contain a Copyright Notice or other distribution restrictions as defined by the originator of the digital media. It the responsibility of the user to identify the digital media creator and to obtain permission before making use of this material.
Please acknowledge NOAA as the source of any used digital media, if not otherwise noted.
NOAA materials, digital media or otherwise, may not be used to state or imply the endorsement by NOAA or by any NOAA employee of a commercial product, service or activity, or used in any other manner that might mislead the public.

Specific Digital Media Conditions

Photography - If a recognizable person appears in a photograph, use for commercial purposes may infringe a right of privacy or publicity and permission should be obtained from the recognizable person.

Audio Recordings - An audio recording may be downloaded, excerpted or reproduced and distributed, without further permission from NOAA. However, use of a portion or segment of an audiotape, such as talent, narration or music, may infringe a right of publicity or copyright and permission should be obtained from the source

Video and Motion Picture Recordings - A recording may be reproduced and distributed without further permission from NOAA. Copyrighted music or footage, which is incorporated in a production, may not be used unless permission is obtained from the copyright owner. While in most instances using non-copyrighted segments is permitted, use for commercial purposes of a portion or segment containing talent or a recognizable person may infringe a right of publicity and permission should be obtained from the talent or recognizable person.

Use of Digital Media created by sources other than NOAA

Some digital media on the SOS public servers (web site or other) are owned by organizations or individuals other than NOAA. These owners have agreed to make their digital media available for educational, journalistic, and personal uses, but restrictions may be placed on other uses (commercial or otherwise). To obtain permission for use of the digital media, contact the digital media creator directly. In cases where the creator is not listed, please contact NOAA for further information. Ownership of datasets in the online Dataset Catalog by parties other than NOAA is noted in the table at the bottom of each catalog page.

Third Party Use of Digital Media

As required by 17 U.S.C. 403, third parties producing copyrighted works consisting predominantly of the material produced by U.S. government agencies must provide notice with such work(s) identifying the U.S. Government material incorporated and stating that such material is not subject to copyright protection. The information on government web pages is in the public domain unless specifically annotated otherwise (copyright may be held elsewhere) and may therefore be used freely by the public.

edited 5-28-09