This policy governs the creation, ownership, use, licensing, protection, and enforcement of copyrights related to Think‑Tanked (“we,” “us,” “our”). It applies to all content we produce or host across our website, publications, social channels, events, and digital services (the “Services”). This policy works alongside our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and any contributor/contractor agreements. If a conflict arises, the most protective term for Think‑Tanked controls unless expressly stated otherwise.

Content: Any copyright‑eligible work (text, images, audio, video, software, data visualizations, compilations, and collective works). Think‑Tanked Materials: Content owned or controlled by Think‑Tanked. Third‑Party Content: Content we do not own (e.g., stock assets, licensed materials, user submissions). UGC (User‑Generated Content): Content submitted or posted by users to our Services. Open Licenses: Licenses (e.g., Creative Commons) that allow re‑use subject to conditions. AI‑Assisted: Human‑created works in which AI tools are used as aids; AI‑Generated: outputs created by AI without sufficient human authorship.

All copyrightable works created by employees within the scope of employment are owned by Think‑Tanked. 

Non‑Employees (Contractors, Volunteers, Board/Advisors, Fellows) Copyright does not automatically transfer to Think‑Tanked for non‑employees. Therefore, written agreements are mandatory and must specify either: (a) Work‑Made‑for‑Hire (if it qualifies under 17 U.S.C. §101) and a fallback assignment, or (b) A broad, irrevocable, exclusive assignment to Think‑Tanked, including all rights and transferable moral rights waivers to the extent permitted by law. Contracts must also include: Originality & non‑infringement warranties; Clear chain‑of‑title (contractor secures and pays for any third‑party permissions); Indemnification for IP claims arising from their materials; Delivery of source files and editable formats; No conflicting licenses (e.g., no unapproved copyleft code in deliverables). 

Registration Program Think‑Tanked may register priority works with the U.S. Copyright Office (e.g., flagship reports, curricula, codebases, brand assets, audiovisual works) to enable statutory damages and fee‑shifting eligibility. 

We maintain a Copyright Register (internal log) listing works selected for registration and their deposit copies.

All Rights Reserved (Default): Unless explicitly stated on a given work, Think‑Tanked Materials are “All Rights Reserved.” No reproduction, distribution, public display, adaptation, or text‑and‑data‑mining/scraping is permitted without our prior written permission. 

Alternative Licenses (If We Choose): For certain works, we may publish under a specified Creative Commons license or other custom license. Any such license will be clearly identified on that work and governs only that work. License conditions (e.g., attribution, non‑commercial use, no derivatives, share‑alike) must be followed strictly. No implied license arises from access to our Services. 

Copyright Notices and Metadata: We may include notices such as: © Think‑Tanked [Year]. All Rights Reserved. Notices and embedded metadata/attribution must not be removed or altered.

Requests to Use Think‑Tanked Materials 

Email copyright@think‑tanked.org with: (i) the material you wish to use, (ii) how, where, scope, media, and duration, (iii) distribution size and audience, and (iv) any adaptations or translations. We may decline or propose a written license with fees/conditions. 

Third‑Party Content (Inbound) 

We only use third‑party materials when we have: a valid license (including proper attribution and compliance with restrictions); or the material is in the public domain (e.g., U.S. federal works, expired terms, or explicit dedication); or a documented fair‑use determination (fact‑specific, conservative, counsel‑reviewed for sensitive cases). 

Open‑license compliance: 

We follow exact license terms (e.g., CC BY requires attribution; CC BY‑NC prohibits commercial use; CC BY‑SA requires sharing under identical terms). We maintain records (URLs, screenshots, license copies, attribution text). 

Stock, Fonts, Templates, and Data 

We retain proof of rights for all stock photos, icon sets, fonts, templates, datasets, and code packages. Project leads must confirm license scope (e.g., web vs. print, seat counts, redistribution).

Human Authorship 

Only human‑authored elements are copyright‑protectable. Materials created solely by AI are not eligible for copyright. To claim ownership, staff must contribute sufficient human creativity (selection, arrangement, editing, transformation) and document it. 

Provenance & Vetting 

If AI tools are used, creators must: Document prompts and human contributions; Vet outputs for third‑party IP (no verbatim or distinctive extraction from protected works); Avoid outputs that replicate identifiable copyrighted styles or protected characters/logos. 

Use of AI‑Generated Third‑Party Content 

We do not knowingly incorporate infringing AI outputs. Vendors must warranty that deliverables are non‑infringing and disclose any AI use. Unvetted AI content is prohibited. 

Text‑and‑Data Mining (TDM) / Scraping 

Unless a work’s posted license explicitly permits it, TDM/scraping of Think‑Tanked Materials is prohibited. Automated access is governed by our Terms and this Policy.

We recognize that fair use (17 U.S.C. §107) can apply in research, commentary, or education. However, there is no nonprofit blanket exemption. We require case‑specific analyses considering purpose, nature, amount, and market effect. High‑risk categories (e.g., photographs, music, news images) require licenses absent a strong, documented fair‑use rationale.

License from Users 

By posting or submitting UGC to our Services, users grant Think‑Tanked a worldwide, royalty‑free, sublicensable license to host, reproduce, distribute, publicly display, and create adaptations for the limited purpose of operating, improving, promoting, and archiving the Services. Users retain ownership of their submissions. 

User Warranties 

Users represent and warrant that they own or control all rights in their UGC; that it does not infringe third‑party rights; and that required permissions (including releases) are secured. 

Moderation and Removal 

We may remove or disable access to UGC at our discretion, including for suspected infringement or policy violations.

We may, in our discretion: 

• Request voluntary compliance or clarify permitted uses; 

• Issue cease‑and‑desist letters; 

• Offer a retroactive license subject to fees/conditions; 

• Send DMCA notices to hosts/search engines; 

• Pursue settlement; 

• File suit seeking injunctive relief, damages, fees, and costs.

For books, journals, curricula, and toolkits (free or paid), we will: 

• Use clear copyright notices and license statements; 

• Secure all third‑party permissions; 

• Implement author/contributor agreements covering ownership, warranties, indemnities, and moral‑rights waivers where permitted; 

• Include anti‑scraping/TDM prohibitions and no‑endorsement disclaimers; 

• Employ version control and retain publication records.

Think‑Tanked is U.S.‑based; U.S. law generally governs. International users should note that copyright terms, moral rights, and database rights may vary by jurisdiction. We reserve all rights to the fullest extent permitted globally and may use contract terms to restrict scraping/TDM, framing, or re‑publication regardless of local exceptions.

Our names, logos, taglines, and trade dress are protected by trademark and unfair‑competition laws. Nothing in this policy grants rights to use our marks without prior written permission. Third‑party publicity/privacy rights (e.g., image/voice) must also be respected.

We maintain internal records of: 

• Copyright ownership/assignments and registrations; 

• Third‑party licenses and attributions; 

• Fair‑use analyses (when relied upon); 

• DMCA notices/counter‑notices and repeat‑infringer actions. 

Project leads are responsible for preserving documentation in accordance with our records policy.

Nothing herein constitutes legal advice to users. We reserve all rights not expressly granted. If any provision is held invalid, the remainder remains in effect.

Permissions & Licensing: copyright@think‑tanked.org

We may revise this policy from time to time. The latest version governs and will be posted with the updated “Last Revised” date.