NAOJ Guidelines for Use

These are the acceptable use policy(herein after “this document”) that must be followed when using contents(images, videos, software, etc.) provided by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Natural Institutions of Sciences. The guidelines set forth apply to contents provided only by NAOJ through our servers(nao.ac.jp, nao.org, subarutelescope.org domains).

Terms of Use

If you use any of our content, it is deemed that you have accepted all terms and conditions (herein after it collectively means “these documents”. These documents are revised or added without notice.) in

  1. this document, and
  2. any additional policies, rules, terms, or conditions pursuant to these applied based on this document
  3. any additional policies, rules, terms, or conditions given on the web page of the projects that is providing the content

If you do not agree to these terms, you may not use our content.

Your use of our content does not imply any other relationship with us.

Use of our Logo is also not covered. When you wish to use our Logo, you are required to contract with NAOJ.

Credit

When you use our content, clearly credit us by displaying one of the following next to the content.

  • (C) National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
  • (C) NAOJ
  • Credit: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
  • Credit: NAOJ

If it is not practical to credit us near the content, you may credit us instead at

  • In publications: on the last page etc. of the publication.
  • In videos, software etc: on the credits etc.

How to Use our contents

Use our contents exactly as they are provided.

Do not modify images, e.g. cropping, changing colors, overlapping with other images or text. We allow only four exceptions to this rule.

  1. If the image is provided with borders, you may crop the borders.
  2. You may change the color of sections that are without images. (You may not change the color of images.)
  3. You may overlap text or marks to locate the positions of objects.
  4. You may change the color of images to grey scale. (Other color changes are not permitted.)

Use Without Contacting NAOJ

If your use is not commercial and match one of the following six criteria, you do not need to contact us. However, the contents displaying the copyright holders except “NAOJ” are credited by the copyright holders (individual/organization). Negotiate directly with the copyright holder to use the content.

* ”Commercial" includes contents on goods made for sale, or contents used in advertising goods or paid services.

1. Personal use

You do not need to contact us to the extent that you use individually or at home. Websites, including the personal home page or blogs on the internet, that contain illegal content, damage public order and good custom, or impede the popularization or astronomy are excluded.

2. Use by school and other educational institutions

School and other educational institutions: childcare centers, kindergartens, schools at all three levels, universities, or institutions that implement the same educational program set by School Education Act.

3. Use for the purpose of the popularization or astronomy in libraries, museums, community centers, institutions that perform research on professional or technical topics related to education, institution that provide training, healthcare or recreation facilities to staffs of educational institutions.

Museums etc: Institutions that collect/preserve objects, artwork, academic materials, etc. that are valuable for a particular area of study, display them to researchers and visitors and have a full-time research staff(such as a curator).

4. Use as journalistic material by the media such as the press and TV.

5. Use for the purpose of the popularization of astronomy on the public media(such as city report and in-house newsletter) by the government or companies.

6. Use in research activities

Use with Contacting NAOJ

If you want to use our content except the use without contacting us or you need to receive our written reply regarding the use, you have to submit a “Application Form”. Please fill in all the necessary fields of “Application Form” and send to us by e-mail. After reviewing your application, we will send you an e-mail whether to accept or deny yours within ten days. Use our contents only after receiving of our approval.

  • Your use of our content does not imply any other relationship with us.
  • Please refrain from using our content for goods made for sale, services, or contents that are illegal, damage public order and good custom, or preventing the popularization of astronomy.
  • We generally do not permit sale or re-distribution of the contents themselves.

» Go to application form

Notes on Use

If our contents are used for acts that are harm the reputation of NAOJ or the following cases, we may stop your use or take legal action depending on the cases. NAOJ will not take any responsibilities for damages caused by preventing your use of our content.

  1. illegal,
  2. damage public order and good custom,
  3. impede the popularization of astronomy,

Clearly and specifically identify the content you wish to use in the application form by providing its web page URL, content title, etc.

If you have any questions when filling in an application form, please contact us.

NAOJ Guidelines in Chinese

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