Conditions for the submission of content for the Knowledge Hub (Terms of Use Knowledge Donor) (as of 09/2020)
1. General
- These terms and conditions stipulate the submission and publication of texts, guidelines, tools (e.g. for calculating life cycle assessments), images, graphics, videos, links and other content by so-called Knowledge Donors for publication on the Knowledge Hub of Wissensstiftung, a foundation with legal capacity under civil law pursuant to Sections 80 et seq. BGB (GERMAN CIVIL CODE). The Knowledge Hub is available to users via the Internet, who can view and download the content published there. The Knowledge Donor authorises Wissensstiftung to use the content as described below.
- Only persons who have registered as Knowledge Donors and have provided their first and last name and a valid e-mail address can submit content; companies must also provide their company name, company logo, industry and address.
- Submission and publication of content on the Knowledge Hub is free of charge for the Knowledge Donor.
2. Content requirements
- The Knowledge Donor must always bear in mind that published content can serve as a basis for far-reaching decisions by users in the context of their projects and activities. The Knowledge Donor is therefore obliged to check the content carefully for topicality, accuracy and completeness before submission. The Knowledge Donor may only submit content to Wissensstiftung that complies with the relevant standards, regulations and statutory provisions and does not infringe the rights of third parties. Wissensstiftung reserves the right to move contributions to the Knowledge Hub to an archive.
- The Knowledge Donor may not submit any content that contains malware and/or technical manipulations that adversely affect the accessibility of the Knowledge Hub. Furthermore, the Knowledge Creator is prohibited from
- submit defamatory, harassing, offensive, discriminatory, pornographic, illegal or false content and/or corresponding links,
- submit content protected by copyright, trademark or competition law,
- use third-party press articles without the consent of the author,
- submit content that is used for advertising purposes. This also applies to so-called surreptitious advertising, particularly in the case of links to your own homepage within content.
3. Publication of content
The Knowledge Donor has no claim to the publication of his content. Wissensstiftung decides at its own discretion whether content is published on the Knowledge Hub - if necessary after editorial processing by Wissensstiftung. The publication of content can be rejected without giving reasons. Wissensstiftung does not check and is not obliged to check whether the content is up-to-date, complete and correct. The Knowledge Donor will be informed of the publication. The content will be published with the first and last name and - if desired - with the contact details (address, telephone/fax number, e-mail address) of the Knowledge Donor and, in the case of companies, also with the logo and a brief summary of the company.
4. Granting of rights of use
- By submitting content, the Knowledge Donor grants Wissensstiftung the non-exclusive right, unlimited in time and place, to reproduce this content with the name of the Knowledge Donor (in the case of companies: additionally with the company logo and a brief summary of the company) in connection with Wissensstiftung, alone or with other content of the Knowledge Donor or third parties; also to distribute it in any form and on any medium (paper, media, etc.), to make it accessible to the public or closed user groups, whether on the Internet or by other electronic means (e.g. as an app for mobile devices), to distribute it within the framework of Wissensstiftung and to make it available to third parties; furthermore to edit, store, send, translate and use them in the context of editorial processing.
- The granting of rights includes in particular the publication of the content - in full or in part - with mention of the Knowledge Donor on the Knowledge Hub, on Wissensstiftung's websites and on Wissensstiftung's social media channels where it can be editorially presented, highlighted and evaluated, as well as the use of the content in presentations, in e-mail newsletters and the passing on of print and online publications to third parties.
- Wissensstiftung is entitled to allow users of the Knowledge Hub to download the content and materials made available for download and to use them for their own purposes and in connection with their own services. Wissensstiftung refers to the copyright and other rights of the Knowledge Donor, insofar as the Knowledge Donor has indicated this when submitting the content.
- Wissensstiftung is also entitled to store the content for its own purposes of quality assurance and liability avoidance - including defense against any third-party claims.
5. Blocking and removal of content
If third parties claim to Wissensstiftung that their rights are infringed by content and this claim is not obviously unjustified, Wissensstiftung may temporarily block access to the content in question or remove the content. The same applies if the content violates these Terms of Use or if Wissensstiftung can reasonably fear that the initial or continued publication of the content as such is likely to impair the reputation or legitimate interests of Wissensstiftung not only insignificantly or not only temporarily. Wissensstiftung will ask the Knowledge Founder to comment on the alleged infringement and inform the Knowledge Donor of any removal or blocking.
6. Liability
The Knowledge Donor is liable for damages resulting from a breach of these terms and conditions for which they are responsible, in particular if content submitted by them is published that infringes the rights of third parties or is incomplete, incorrect or out of date.
7. Modification and discontinuation of the Knowledge Hub
Wissensstiftung is not obliged, but entitled, to further develop the Knowledge Hub technically and functionally, taking into account the legitimate interests of the users and the Knowledge Donors. Wissensstiftung may - at its own discretion - discontinue the Knowledge Hub. If the Knowledge Hub is discontinued, Wissensstiftung is entitled, but not obliged, to delete the Knowledge Donor's content. Wissensstiftung has no claim to the transfer or publication of the content.
8. Miscellaneous
Should any provision of these Terms of Use be or become invalid or unenforceable, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.