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Copyright Policy

Last Updated: January 11, 2026

Purpose

This Copyright Policy explains the intellectual property rights related to content on Elevate for Humanity platforms, including our materials, user-generated content, and third-party content. We respect intellectual property rights and expect our community to do the same.

Our Copyrighted Materials

What We Own

Unless otherwise noted, all content on Elevate for Humanity platforms is owned by or licensed to us:

  • Course materials, curricula, and lesson plans
  • Videos, presentations, and multimedia content
  • Text, graphics, logos, and images
  • Software, code, and platform functionality
  • Assessments, quizzes, and evaluation materials
  • Documentation and training materials
  • Website design and layout

Copyright Notice: © 2026 Elevate for Humanity. All rights reserved.

Permitted Uses

Students and authorized users may:

  • Access and view materials for personal educational use
  • Download materials for offline study (where permitted)
  • Print materials for personal reference
  • Share materials within authorized course groups
  • Quote brief excerpts with proper attribution

Prohibited Uses

You may NOT:

  • Reproduce, distribute, or sell our materials
  • Modify or create derivative works without permission
  • Remove copyright notices or watermarks
  • Share materials with non-enrolled individuals
  • Post materials on public websites or file-sharing services
  • Use materials for commercial purposes
  • Reverse engineer software or platforms

User-Generated Content

Your Rights

When you create and post content on our platforms:

  • You retain copyright ownership of your original work
  • You control how your work is used outside our platforms
  • You can delete your content at any time (subject to backups)
  • You receive credit for your work when displayed

License You Grant Us

By posting content, you grant Elevate for Humanity a:

  • Non-exclusive license: We don't own your content exclusively
  • Worldwide license: Can be displayed globally
  • Royalty-free license: No payment required for use
  • Sublicensable license: Can allow others to view/use
  • Transferable license: Continues if platform ownership changes

This license allows us to:

  • Display your content on our platforms
  • Distribute to other authorized users
  • Create backups and copies for technical purposes
  • Modify for formatting or technical compatibility
  • Use in promotional materials (with your permission)

Your Responsibilities

When posting content, you represent that:

  • You own the content or have permission to post it
  • The content doesn't infringe others' intellectual property
  • You have rights to grant the license described above
  • The content complies with all applicable laws

Third-Party Content

Licensed Materials

Some content on our platforms is licensed from third parties:

  • Textbooks and educational publishers
  • Video and multimedia providers
  • Software and tool vendors
  • Stock photos and graphics

These materials are subject to their own copyright and licensing terms. Use only as authorized.

Open Educational Resources (OER)

We use some openly licensed educational materials. These are typically licensed under Creative Commons or similar licenses. Check individual materials for specific licensing terms.

Fair Use in Education

Educational Fair Use

Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted materials for educational purposes without permission. Factors considered:

  • Purpose: Nonprofit educational use favors fair use
  • Nature: Factual works more likely fair use than creative works
  • Amount: Using small portions favors fair use
  • Effect: Not harming market for original favors fair use

Fair Use Guidelines

When using copyrighted materials under fair use:

  • Use only what's necessary for educational purpose
  • Provide proper attribution and citations
  • Don't distribute beyond the class or course
  • Don't use if licensed version is reasonably available
  • Don't create course packs or compilations without permission
  • When in doubt, seek permission or use alternatives

DMCA Compliance

Digital Millennium Copyright Act

We comply with the DMCA and respond to valid copyright infringement notices. We also respect the DMCA safe harbor provisions for user-generated content.

Filing a DMCA Notice

If you believe content on our platform infringes your copyright, send a written notice to our DMCA agent including:

  1. Your contact information: Name, address, phone, email
  2. Identification of copyrighted work: Describe the work being infringed
  3. Location of infringing material: URL or specific location on our platform
  4. Good faith statement: State you believe use is not authorized
  5. Accuracy statement: Declare information is accurate under penalty of perjury
  6. Authorization: Physical or electronic signature of copyright owner or agent

DMCA Agent Contact

  • Email: Contact Us
  • Mail: DMCA Agent, Elevate for Humanity
  • 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1300
  • Indianapolis, IN 46240
  • Phone: (317) 314-3757

Counter-Notice

If your content was removed due to a DMCA notice and you believe it was removed in error, you may file a counter-notice including:

  1. Your contact information
  2. Identification of removed content and its location
  3. Statement under penalty of perjury that removal was mistake or misidentification
  4. Consent to jurisdiction of federal court
  5. Your physical or electronic signature

Repeat Infringer Policy

We maintain a policy for repeat copyright infringers:

  • First offense: Content removal and warning
  • Second offense: Temporary suspension (30 days)
  • Third offense: Permanent account termination

Severe or willful infringement may result in immediate termination.

Trademarks

Elevate for Humanity trademarks include:

  • Elevate for Humanity name and logo
  • Program names and branding
  • Slogans and taglines
  • Service marks

Use of our trademarks requires written permission. Contact our contact form for trademark licensing inquiries.

Attribution Requirements

Citing Our Materials

When citing Elevate for Humanity materials:

Elevate for Humanity. (2026). [Course/Material Title]. Retrieved from https://www.elevateforhumanity.org/[url]

Citing Others' Work

Always provide proper attribution when using others' work:

  • Include author name, title, source, and date
  • Use appropriate citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
  • Link to original source when possible
  • Clearly distinguish quoted material from your own work

Questions and Permissions

For copyright questions or permission requests:

  • General Questions: our contact form
  • DMCA Notices: our contact form
  • Permission Requests: our contact form
  • Trademark Licensing: our contact form
  • Phone: (317) 314-3757

Related Policies:

Questions about our policies? Contact us at our contact form