These rules govern all digital assets and media submitted for publication on the Victorian Maritime Centre website. They maintain organizational standards, respect historical accuracy, and protect intellectual property.

1. Copyright & Intellectual Property

  • Ownership: You must own the rights to any media uploaded or have written clearance/permission from the copyright owner.

  • Licensing: By uploading content, you grant the Victorian Maritime Centre a non-exclusive license to use, display, and archive the material on its official website and digital channels.

  • Public Domain / Archival Material: Historical photos, ship logs, or artifacts must explicitly state their archive reference source or confirm public domain status.

2. Content & Historical Standards

  • Relevance: All uploads must relate to Victorian maritime history, naval heritage, museum exhibits, vessel preservation, or community events.

  • Accuracy: Historical narratives or captions submitted alongside photos should be factual, verified, or cited where applicable.

  • Prohibited Content: Uploads containing defamation, hate speech, explicit language, political campaigning, or unauthorized commercial promotions will be removed immediately.

3. Privacy & Personal Information

  • Individual Consent: Do not upload photos featuring recognizable living individuals without their explicit written consent.

  • Minors: Photos depicting children or minors require signed parental or guardian consent forms prior to publication.

  • PII Protection: Ensure personal identifiers (e.g., private phone numbers, home addresses, sensitive personal correspondence) are redacted from scanned historical documents.

4. Technical & File Requirements

  • Image Formats: JPG, PNG, or WebP. Maximum file size: 10 MB per image. Recommended resolution: 1920×1080 (HD) minimum for gallery display.

  • Document Formats: PDF for historical reports, brochures, or newsletters. Maximum size: 25 MB.

  • Video/Audio Files: Videos should be hosted externally (e.g., YouTube or Vimeo) and embedded via URL rather than uploaded directly.

  • Accessibility: All image uploads must include a concise description for alt text (e.g., “HMAS Castlemaine docked at Williamstown, 1975”).

5. Moderation & Editorial Rights

  • Pre-Publication Review: Submitted content is subject to review by website administrators prior to going live.

  • Editing & Formatting: The Victorian Maritime Centre reserves the right to crop images, correct typographical errors in descriptions, or update metadata for SEO and accessibility purposes.

  • Removal: Content may be taken down without prior notice if a copyright claim, privacy complaint, or inaccuracy is identified.

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