Thank you for supporting the Smithsonian Lemelson Center's project, Places of Invention, which is helping to create a digital record of inventions throughout history and around the world. Your participation in this project will allow historians and the general public to gain a greater understanding of the history of invention and its place within the American experience.
You agree that your submission is subject to the following terms and conditions:
At the time of your submission you affirm that you are either more than 18 years of age, or an emancipated minor, or possess legal parental or guardian consent, and are fully able and competent to enter into the terms, conditions, obligations, affirmations, representations, and warranties set forth in these Terms of Service, and to abide by and comply with these Terms of Service. In any case, you affirm that you are over the age of 13, as the project is not intended for children under 13. If you are under 13 years of age, then please do not use the Places of Invention website.
The text of your submission must be created by you, wholly original; you may include media (video, audio or photographs) that are in the public domain, have been published on YouTube and/or can be credited through the link you submit. If submitting an oral history, share these terms and conditions to the interviewee and obtain his or her agreement to them prior to submitting the interview. You retain ownership in your submission, but by making a submission you give the Smithsonian, and those authorized by the Smithsonian, your irrevocable perpetual permission to disseminate, modify, and use your submission, in whole or in part, in all media now known or later developed, for standard museum purposes and for this digital online project. This permission includes publication in the Places of Invention book, as well as communication channels (websites, social media, print and online publications, newsletters), publicity and promotions, fundraising, educational programming and publications, and exhibitions.
Do not submit anything that is commercial, off-topic, partisan-political, contains personal attacks or expletives, or is otherwise abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, discriminatory, libelous, obscene, false, pornographic, or that infringes the rights of any third party, or violates the rules at http://www.si.edu/termsofuse, which are incorporated here (link in footer) by reference. Once you make a submission, the Smithsonian reviews it for compliance with these rules. The Smithsonian may, but is not obliged to, edit submissions for grammar, spelling, and/or insignificant profanity. The Smithsonian is under no obligation to keep, post, or use any submission.
By making a submission, you waive any privacy expectations you may have with regard to your submission. If the Smithsonian selects your submission for inclusion in its exhibition, the Smithsonian will make the submission, in whole or part, available to the general public. The public may use and share your submission in various ways including via social media such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and applications such as “share this,” all of which operate independently of the Smithsonian (i.e., have their own policies and terms), and commentary with which you disagree may become associated with your submission. If selected for inclusion on the Places of Invention interactive map, the Smithsonian will only identify you online by your first name. The Smithsonian does not ask for, nor require personal (contact) information.
You are solely responsible for your submission and any consequences of submitting it. The Smithsonian shall not be responsible or liable for any breach of these terms and conditions by you, claims by a third party that your submission violates the third party’s rights, or claims by you that a third party is misusing your submission.
This project is in beta and will continue to evolve. Any changes to these terms and conditions will be posted on the project website. If you have questions about any aspect of these terms and conditions, you may contact the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for clarification.
Updated: February 2015